Familial factors affecting Achievement
Another way in which the income inequality in America affects academic achievement amongst students is through the different family environments that are created as a result of it. The differences between the lifestyles of the rich and poor can be astonishing. Wealthy families tend to have large homes or apartments in beautiful and expensive neighborhoods, and it is not uncommon for them to even own multiple properties. These homes sport granite countertops, new appliances, large TVs and surround sound stereos, and even sometimes a pool in the backyard. This is starkly contrasted with the homes that the poorest Americans inhabit. For the families that are forced to live in public housing facilities, they are subjected to things such as small, cramped apartments, faulty plumbing, mold, and even rodent and insect infestations. And then there is the ever-lingering threat of being a victim of a crime from the moment they step out of their front door, as these public housing facilities and their surrounding neighborhoods tend to be amongst the most unsafe areas in the country. Just these things in themselves create two completely different home environments, one of which provides severe stressors and is significantly less amenable to academic success. But this home environment is just the beginning of the differences that distinguish the lifestyles of the upper- and lower-classes.
One problem that is rampant amongst lower-class families, but is virtually never experienced by their upper-class counterparts, is not having enough money to adequately support your family. These families frequently struggle with unemployment or working minimum-wage jobs, living paycheck to paycheck and barely being able to make ends meet. This brings another stressor into the home environment that can impact a student's academic achievement, and the effect is multiplied when the family requires their child to pick up a job in order to help contribute to the bills in order for them to get by. This not only limits the time and energy that a student can devote to their studies, but it also sends the message that earning some sort of wage is more important than receiving an education. And this is something that children of wealthy families simply do not have to deal with. Building on this notion of not having enough to get by, many lower-income families receive government assistance in the form of food stamps. For these families, and even those who don't receive food stamps but are simply on a tight budget, they tend to buy cheaper foods with less nutritional value. Though this isn't one of the first things that come to mind when considering the differences between wealthy and impoverished families, it is definitely a reality and one that has legitimate effects. In the short run, a lack of proper nutrition can lead to a loss of focus and sharpness, which are two very vital pieces in academic success. But in the long run, this inadequate nutrition can lead to things such as obesity, high blood pressure, and numerous other health ailments.
Health and well-being is another area that differentiates upper- and lower-class families. Be it respiratory issues resulting from the mold in their apartments that they are forced to endure, to diabetes from constantly eating food with no nutritional value, or even from the prominence of HIV/AIDS in low-income communities stemming from shared syringes during drug use or simply from unprotected sex, there are serious health-issues that poor families face that wealthy families do not. And what makes matters even worse is the disparities in the quality of the healthcare received between economic classes. Upper-class families can afford legitimate health insurance or have it as a part of the benefits provided by their employer, and are serviced at top notch medical facilities. Lower-class families are not as fortunate, and are often relegated to receiving government-funded Medicaid and being serviced at large, public medical facilities that are more run down and can have patients waiting for hours before even being seen by a doctor. Being afflicted by some sort health impairment, or having a family member that suffers from one, especially when there isn't adequate healthcare to treat it, can definitely impact a student's academic performance.
Furthermore, upper-class families tend to have significant previous experience with the educational system, and therefore understand what is necessary to be successful academically and can use their insights to ensure that their children will maximize their academic experience. They provide a much greater support system for their children by being actively involved in their academic careers, having expectations of their performance, and even acquiring tutors to supplement in-class learning and provide one-on-one help if they begin to struggle. This is very different from lower-class families, who often do not have the same experience with the educational system, and therefore cannot provide their children with the same quality of education as affluent families can. This lack of familial support leads to decreased levels of academic motivation, and is reflected through their reduced levels of achievement. Unfortunately, this, as well as the aforementioned environmental differences between the lifestyles of families with different economic standings severely play into the persistence of achievement gaps.
One problem that is rampant amongst lower-class families, but is virtually never experienced by their upper-class counterparts, is not having enough money to adequately support your family. These families frequently struggle with unemployment or working minimum-wage jobs, living paycheck to paycheck and barely being able to make ends meet. This brings another stressor into the home environment that can impact a student's academic achievement, and the effect is multiplied when the family requires their child to pick up a job in order to help contribute to the bills in order for them to get by. This not only limits the time and energy that a student can devote to their studies, but it also sends the message that earning some sort of wage is more important than receiving an education. And this is something that children of wealthy families simply do not have to deal with. Building on this notion of not having enough to get by, many lower-income families receive government assistance in the form of food stamps. For these families, and even those who don't receive food stamps but are simply on a tight budget, they tend to buy cheaper foods with less nutritional value. Though this isn't one of the first things that come to mind when considering the differences between wealthy and impoverished families, it is definitely a reality and one that has legitimate effects. In the short run, a lack of proper nutrition can lead to a loss of focus and sharpness, which are two very vital pieces in academic success. But in the long run, this inadequate nutrition can lead to things such as obesity, high blood pressure, and numerous other health ailments.
Health and well-being is another area that differentiates upper- and lower-class families. Be it respiratory issues resulting from the mold in their apartments that they are forced to endure, to diabetes from constantly eating food with no nutritional value, or even from the prominence of HIV/AIDS in low-income communities stemming from shared syringes during drug use or simply from unprotected sex, there are serious health-issues that poor families face that wealthy families do not. And what makes matters even worse is the disparities in the quality of the healthcare received between economic classes. Upper-class families can afford legitimate health insurance or have it as a part of the benefits provided by their employer, and are serviced at top notch medical facilities. Lower-class families are not as fortunate, and are often relegated to receiving government-funded Medicaid and being serviced at large, public medical facilities that are more run down and can have patients waiting for hours before even being seen by a doctor. Being afflicted by some sort health impairment, or having a family member that suffers from one, especially when there isn't adequate healthcare to treat it, can definitely impact a student's academic performance.
Furthermore, upper-class families tend to have significant previous experience with the educational system, and therefore understand what is necessary to be successful academically and can use their insights to ensure that their children will maximize their academic experience. They provide a much greater support system for their children by being actively involved in their academic careers, having expectations of their performance, and even acquiring tutors to supplement in-class learning and provide one-on-one help if they begin to struggle. This is very different from lower-class families, who often do not have the same experience with the educational system, and therefore cannot provide their children with the same quality of education as affluent families can. This lack of familial support leads to decreased levels of academic motivation, and is reflected through their reduced levels of achievement. Unfortunately, this, as well as the aforementioned environmental differences between the lifestyles of families with different economic standings severely play into the persistence of achievement gaps.