ABSTRACT
When we consider why “poor” people in our society continue to be stuck in a rut of poverty, some of us turn to pat, easy answers: Economic recession. Character deficits. A lack of morals. A poor work ethic by lazy freeloaders. Cultural background. Just plain bad luck. These clichés, which ignore the complex realities of classism, allow the more privileged people among us to dismiss the problem while maintaining another popular myth: that the United States is a country of unbiased opportunity, a level playing field where everybody has equal access to the American Dream, where fortunes can be made by people who are willing to work hard.
