A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out: Negotiations of Poverty and Class Among Low-Income Oregonians
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AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Morgan Montañez for the degree of Master of Arts in Applied Anthropology presented on March 3, 2017. Title: A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out: Negotiations of Poverty and Class Among Low-Income Oregonians Abstract approved: ______________________________________________________ Nancy R. Rosenberger The Linn and Benton County Gleaner network has helped the low-income families of urban and rural Oregon reclaim moral, social and cultural capital that is lost in the act of being poor in America. Rather than participating solely in government safety nets, these people reject “hand- outs” in favor of exchanging their participation for aid. By embodying the value of merit, Gleaners negotiate their low-income status in a way that allows them to reclaim middle-class values and self-worth. Through 47 personal narratives, participant observation, and a 345 participant survey, this thesis examines how low-income people experience poverty, how they present themselves as middle class, and how contradictions found between qualitative and quantitative data reveal the cultural struggle of being poor in America. This project illustrates the ways that the Gleaner network provides both food and dignity to the low-income people who depend on it. ©Copyright by Morgan Montañez March 3, 2017 All Rights Reserved A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out Negotiations of Poverty and Class Among Low-Income Oregonians by Morgan Montañez A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Presented March 3, 2017 Commencement June 2017 Master of Arts thesis of Morgan Montañez presented on March 3, 2017. APPROVED: Major Professor, representing Applied Anthropology Director of the School of Language, Culture, and Society Dean of the Graduate School I understand that my thesis will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my thesis to any reader upon request. Morgan Montañez, Author ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS As with many things, it takes a village to produce something of meaning. The author would like to thank her family and friends for being patient and supportive throughout this process. Special thanks go out to the following: To Nancy Rosenberger for all of your patience and guidance. It has been an honor to learn from you. Uncle Mo for helping me to use SPSS and for helping me navigate the world of higher ed. Uncle Mario for supporting me while I wrote the bulk of this document and for editing large portions of chapters. Thank you also to Drew Gerkey for all of the help with the survey at every stage of this thesis and also for your advice. Jessica Anderson for helping me talk through all my theory headaches. Finally, special thanks to the Gleaners who I worked with for nearly two years, who taught me so much about what it is to be a good person, to be kind, and worthy of respect. Your willingness to help others, even when things are not easy, make you the most valuable residents in any community. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1 Introduction ..………………....……………………………………………………………… 1 2 Everything You Need to Know about Gleaners.…………………...………………………… 3 How do Gleaners Work?...................................................................................................5 Histories and Experiences………………………………………………………………13 Corvallis………………………………………………………………………...………14 Mary’s River Gleaners………………………………...………………………..15 Sweet Home…………………………………………………………….………………18 Sweet Home Gleaners……………………………………………..……………20 Fair Share Gleaners…………………………………………..…………………22 Alsea…………………………………………………………………………………….24 Alsea Gleaners…………………………………………………………………..25 Other Groups……………………………………………………………………………27 3 A Review of the Literature...………………...………………………………………………..29 Part One; Relevant Theory……………………………………………………….……..29 Foucault………………………………………………………………..………..29 Bourdieu……………………………………………………………..……….…31 Goffman…………………………………………………………………………34 Part Two; A Brief History of Poverty in America………………………………………34 Part Three; Class and the American Dream……………………………………………..41 A Definition of Rural……………………..……………………………………………..47 4 Methodology…….. ………………...…………………………………………………………49 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page Qualitative Methods………………………………………………………………….…49 Participant Observation…………………………………………………………50 Participant Observation…………………………………………………50 Oral History Interviews…………………………………………………………54 Analysis…………………………………………………………………………56 Quantitative Methods; The Survey ………………………………………….…………57 Data Analysis…………………………………………………………...………59 Benefits of a Mixed Methods Study………………………………………….…………59 Reflexive Notes on My Background With Poverty and Class………………………….60 5 Poverty and How They Talked About It………………………………………………………63 How They Talked About Poverty……………………………………………………….63 Experiences of Poverty………………………………………………………………….64 Gleaners in Urban and Rural Settings……………………………………………………72 Poverty as Existing in the Past…………………………………………………….……77 Poverty as a Learning Experience………………………………………………………78 How they Represent Themselves………………………………………………….……79 Generational Differences in Experiences………………………………………….……80 Problems with Health………………………………………………………………..…82 Opinions of Poverty……………………………………………………………….……83 Helping Others…………………………………………………………………………90 Meaning of it All……………………………………………………………….………92 6 Perceptions of Class, Experiences of Poverty ……………………………………...……….93 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page Being Middle Class…………………………………………………………………….94 Insights Gained from Participant Observation…………………………………96 Insights Gained from Interviews………………………………………………101 About the Past…………………………………………………………101 Constructing a Middle Class Life………………………………………………………102 Constructing Class for Working People……………………………………………….102 Class for Older Generations……………………………………………………………104 Stories of Work………………………………………………………………………..105 Constructing Class……………………………………………………………………..108 Final Thoughts…………………………………………………………………………111 7 Quantitative Data Findings…………………. ……………………………………...………112 Food Security Assessment……………………………………………………………114 Questions About Poverty and Class…………………………………………………..123 Discussion………………………………………………………………………….…127 8 Being Middle Class………………………………………………………………………...…129 Gleaners As Moral, Cultural, and Social Capital………………………………………133 Moral Capital…………………………………………………………………133 Social Capital…………………………………………………………………136 Pride and Social Capital………………………………………………140 Cultural Capital………………………………………………………………141 A Discussion of Success………………………………………………………………143 9 Discussion of Findings …………………..………………………………………………...…145 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page Discussion of Findings…………………………………………………………………145 Experiences of Poverty: Results from Using Mixed Methods………………………….146 Perceptions of Poverty…………………………………………………………………154 Constructing and Performng Class ……………………………………………………155 10 Conclusion………….……………………………………………………………………….160 Limitations………………………………………………………………….………..…161 Suggestions For Future Research………………………………………………………162 Recommendations………………………………………………………………………162 Closing Remarks …………………………………………………………….…………164 References …………………………………………………………………...……..…………..165 Appendices ………………………………………………………………………..……………173 Appendix A; The Survey………………………………………………………….……174 Appendix B; Interview Guide……………………………………………………..……181 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 2.1 Three Gleaners Wait for Distribution to Begin……………………………………………….. 3 2.2 Blackberries…………………………………….……,,,,…………………………………4 2.3 Mary’s River Gleaners………………..……………………………………………...….. 5 2.4 Distribution Day…………………………….…….……………………………...……… 7 2.5 Repacking Frozen Vegetables…………….…………………………………..………… 9 2.6 Delivery of Pick-Up Goods to Distribution Site……………………………...………… 10 2.7 Bags Packed for Deliveries ……………………………………...………………………11 2.8 Adoptees Wait for Distribution……………………………………...…….……………. 11 2.9 Coordinators and Co-Coordinators at Meeting ……………….…………………………12 2.10 Man Moving Boxes at Linn-Benton Food Share……………………………………… ..13 2.11 Mary’s River Gleaner Sign..………………………………….………………………… 15 2.12 Foster Lake……………………………………………….……..……………………….18 2.13 Sweet Home Gleaners…… ………………………………..…….………………………20 2.14 Fair Share Gleaners………...………………………………...…….…………………… 22 2.15 Alsea Gleaners………………………... ………………………………..…………….…25 2.16 Busy Bees, Fair Share……………………………... ……………………………………27 3.1 Loading Repack Into Truck……………………………………………………………...52 3.2 Lunch During Repack……………………………………………………………………53 5.1 Outside Scio ……………….…………………………………..………………...………63 5.2 Woman Washing Cooler………………………………………………………...……… 65 5.3 Two Women Sort Produce ………………………………………………………………68 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 5.4 Woman Unloading Donations From Car……………………………..………………… 69 5.5 Smoke Break at Repack ……………………………….…………...……………………70 5.6 Cows Outside Scio ………………………………………………………………………72 5.7 A Gleaner’s House ……………………………………………………………..………..76 5.8 Repack ……………….…………………………………...…………………….………..78 5.9 At Distribution …………………………………….…….…..…………………………..79 5.10 Weighing Gleaners Out ……………………………………………..…………………...80 5.11 Working Through Disabilities …………………………………………………………..83 5.12 Clean Up After Distribution……………………………………………………………...90 6.1 Rusted Door……………………………………………………….………..……………93 6.2 Mobile Home with Tarp Roof ……………………………………………….…………96 6.3 Posing for Picture ………………………….…………………………………...………101 7.1 Gleaner Annual Income By Household Size…………………………………………...113 7.2 How Big of a Problem is Poverty in Our Society Today?...............................................126 8.1 Smelling a Rose ……………………………………………………….….……………129 8.2 Waiting for Distribution…………………………….……………………….………… 133 8.3 Bell Peppers……………………………………………………………………………