Kathryn Edin Speaks About Poverty in U.S.

“Once you have a passion, the question becomes, how do you find a mission?” asked acclaimed author, Princeton University sociology professor and researcher Kathryn Edin at Tuesday’s assembly. She captivated the audience with captivating stories of the impoverished people and families that she has been studying over the course of a decade, as well as her own journey in finding a passion and pursuing it as a career.

"I soon saw that the system these kids were intermeshed in was arguably as bad as if the system did not intervene at all"

Edin began her talk by explaining her winding career path. She was attending college in Chicago, when her sociology professor offered to grant students with extra credit if they interned at the local public housing project, Cabrini-Green Homes. Edin said that she immediately raised her hand and was “utterly fascinated” by the culture at the Homes.

This internship led Edin to realize the extreme poverty that millions around the country deal with. She originally worked with the elderly and eventually worked with families and children. “I soon saw that the system these kids were intermeshed in was arguably as bad as if the system did not intervene at all,” she said.

Edin proceeded to obtain her doctorate degree from Northwestern University and became a sociologist focused on welfare, economic survival strategies and impoverished teenagers transitioning into adulthood. Edin’s most recent book $2.00 A Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America, examines impoverished American families’ struggle to survive on a mere two dollars a day. The book chronicles the research and travels of Edin and her co-author Luke Shaefer across the country, investigating extreme poverty in modern America.

Both in her book and in her speech, Edin disclosed not only the undeniable and overwhelming statistics of her research, but also related personal experiences of those who participated in her study.

At her Latin Study lunch that afternoon, Edin stressed the importance of “handing over the microphone” to those living in extreme poverty, articulating their experiences, which often go ignored and unheard. “[In the book,] we try to use as much of their own voices as possible,” reflected Edin.

Edin remembered completing her book and reading it to one of the subjects she had written about. The subject told Edin, “It’s like a dream come true. I never thought my suffering would mean anything; now it does.”

According to Religion Instructor and Assembly Coordinator Kathleen Brownback, $2.00 A Day was chosen by Exeter townspeople for the One Town One Book program, which prompted Edin to visit Exeter to speak about her research and writing processes. Spanish Instructor Gaye Vorkink, who attended both the assembly and the Latin Study lunch and read Edin’s book for the program, described the book as “profoundly moving.”

In response to Dr. Edin’s assembly, many students left with a new perspective on poverty in America and a new interest for enacting change.

Senior Emily Green was stunned by the statistics that Edin brought to light. “There’s kind of a hidden America that a lot of people don’t see [and] haven’t been exposed to. I think the statistic that 3.5 million children will be living under that two dollar a day line in the United States is pretty astounding, considering what perceptions of the U.S. are,” she said.

Upper Bryce Morales shared a similar sentiment. “I thought the assembly was fascinating,” he said. “I thought it shed good light on a problem we don’t usually see much about. I think it’s enlightening regarding this new subset of poverty.”

Vorkink hopes tangible action results from Edin’s research. “I hope that her book is on every senator’s desk and that they’re going to wake up and know that we have to do something for the people in this country,” Vorkink said.

Upper Alayna D’Amico considered Exeter’s own population living below the poverty line. “This assembly definitely could change some people’s opinions…[Exonians] might become more aware about that population as well after this and consider ways that they could possibly take action,” she said.

Others appreciated Edin’s usage of both personal stories and factual evidence to persuade the audience. “I liked her emphasis on grounding anecdotes with the statistics. Because so often we vow to the most exciting, or most emotionally impactful stories,” Vorkink said. “But when we see that they are a part of a huge trend, that actually helps solve problems more effectively,and really establish that there is a problem that we need to fix.”

Vorkink was also inspired by the fervor that Edin brings to her work and hopes that this will in turn motivate students who do not know yet what their purpose is. “I always encourage my students to come to these because they never know when they’re going to find their passion too! Hearing somebody like her is inspirational,” she said. Edin also hopes that as students transition into their careers that they too “have a mission, and not just a job.”