It is a problem of social class inequality and dependence on society.Īnother important theme that is raised by Desmond in his book is the importance of home as a place of living. Eviction is not the question of skin color, origin, or ethnicity. Despite the intentions of ordinary people to behave fairly and well, there are many outside factors that influence and determine the results of their actions. Desmond proves this position by saying that “equal treatment in an unequal society could still foster inequality” (252). Therefore, the main assumption of sociological theory is that “all elements of society serve some function for operation of the whole, even negative elements” (Babbie 38). ![]() On the other hand, regarding the basics of structural functionalism, any system consists of parts that make a contribution to their overall progress. ![]() It means that, on the one hand, society is a social system that meets certain standards and norms to exist and develop. According to Babbie, this paradigm explains that any social entity is an organism that can be successful only when it functions well. To avoid the promotion of racial biases and understand the worth of social class inequalities, structural functionalism as one of the sociological theories may be applied. However, there are also several governmental decisions that discuss the theme of inequality in terms of racial and social differences (e.g., the 1968 Civil Rights Act). Desmond underlines that eviction is a problem that could touch white and black populations the same way as it is an outcome of social inequality. For example, when people say about poverty and the inability to pay rents, many Americans think about black citizens and their racial diversities in society instead of identifying their social statuses and classes. What makes Evicted an interesting source of information is the author’s possibility not to follow the already accepted standards and canons. The interconnection between all these concepts is impressive, and different sociological theories should be identified to understand these ties. ![]() According to Desmond, “eviction is a cause, not just a condition, of poverty”, and poverty is inherent to Americans not because of lack of resources (299). Is not necessary to blame a particular group of people for promoting eviction but the system that has already been established. The point is that there are no positive or negative characters in this fiction story because all of them are related to specific social events in the United States. ![]() Desmond uses his observations in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and introduces eight different families with similar housing problems. The results of the author’s ethnographic research help to discover the essence of low-income housing. In 2016, Desmond introduced his book Evicted with a provocative plot about poverty in American society and its relation to housing policies and economic changes. The Worth of Evicted in Modern American Society The eviction crisis has already challenged the United States, and the examples introduced by Desmond in Evicted prove the role sociological theory and social class play in its understanding. Therefore, the evaluation of social class differences seems to be an appropriate concept to enhance the discussion. The chosen book is not about poverty only but about people who contribute to and suffer from this social condition. In this paper, the analysis of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond will be developed through the prism of sociological theory and its paradigms.
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