Growing Gap between Classes

The gap between the poor and the rich has been growing rapidly in America, and we can clearly see this through the many families left homeless in Orlando Florida. Nadia Shira Cohen, and Paulo Siqueira began a project called "Motel America," aimed at capturing photographs of families left homeless who resort to living in motels. According to the New York Times Photo Blog, the "idea that financial ruin could devastate a family so quickly was the driving force behind the project." They took the idea that one event could determine a families fate and use photography to expose that to the rest of America.

It is most interesting to me, that the motel at which the photographers are tracking the families is only a few short miles from Disney World. Disney World, an expensive travel destination, is an American symbol for the ideal family life. Only fairly wealthy families are able to make the trip where children are spoiled and treated like princesses and princes for the duration of the trip. There is a stark contrast between the children enjoying themselves at Disney World and the children struggling to live at the motel a few miles away.

The 2nd and 15 photos on the photo blog clearly illustrate this point. In the first photograph we see a 10 year old girl who is a resident of the motel. She is standing alone in a very nice gown in an unorganized, messy motel room. Clothes are strewn over the beds behind her and two washed out paintings lay crooked on the wall. The washed out paintings and messy room help shows how unorganized and dull her life is. She is also alone, and we find out from the caption that her father has just gone through brain surgery.

In the second photograph we see a young girl on what appears to be her fathers shoulders at Disney World onlooking the Cinderella Castle. Like the young girl in the first picture, she is pictured in a gown. However, unlike the young girl in the first photograph, she is pictured with her father and many other people in the background. She is also onlooking a castle which can represent her fantasies and hopes. Both girls aspire to be princesses in gowns, but while the girl in the motel in the first photograph is limited to a dank motel room, the girl in the second photograph is in the bright outdoors onlooking a castle.

Comparing these photographs displays the gap in America. While some families are thriving others are struggling to live. While some children are allowed to have aspirations with intentions to achieve their goals, others never dare to dream of being successful.


What other examples can you think of that show the gap between classes? Do you think it is possible to narrow the gap again? Or will the gap keep growing? What can be done to prevent that?