The Dispossessed

Deresiewicz defines the working class in many ways. At one point he describes the working class as anyone who does not earn a salary, but an hourly wage. He further goes on to say that the working class are those who have a specific relationship with their job. I think what he was trying to explain was that the working class consist of people who do not particularly enjoy their job. These include those who work in restaurants, retail, or other jobs that do not require any sort of education to perform. Deresiewicz tells of how television shows do an adequate job of representing the working-American class. However he goes on to explain that these shows fail to represent true struggling working class families. I disagree with this statement. Shows like "Malcolm in the Middle," or "Glee," in my opinion do a wonderful job of showcasing different fiscal living situations. However, at the same time I have never lived in the working class, I have always been a part of the middle-class, so perhaps I m unaware that these shows are actually doing a horrible job with its representation. Deresiewicz explains that it is very important to not group working class, working poor, and working families together because he makes it very clear that these three are completely different. I see it as what if someone was transgender and they were making their transition from female to male. There are always going to be those people who do not think before they speak and use female pronouns when addressing her, this in turn makes him feel uncomfortable. Not only does it make him feel uncomfortable, but it is also very wrong.


The audience for this piece I would say is anyone really. However I feel as though people in the Upper class would not find it very relatable or interesting. But I feel as though this essay is not just directed towards the working class. The middle class can also gain some valuable knowledge from this essay. The fact that he constantly discusses the lives and struggles of the working class suggests that that is what his intended audience is.