There are several different social issues presented in Jeannette Wall’s memoir “The Glass Castle. ” These issues included neglect – medical and education, unsanitary living conditions, homelessness, unemployment, alcohol abuse, domestic violence, discrimination, mental health issues, physical and sexual abuse, hunger and poverty. Poverty was one of the major key issues addressed in this memoir.
Poverty is referred to as the inability to provide for one basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, medical etc. Walls (2005), stated that at times they would go days without eating and would keep their hunger to themselves, but always thought of ways to get their hands on some food. She further stated that“At lunchtime, when other kids unwrapped their sandwiches or brought their hot meals, Brian and I would get out a book and read…. . I told people that I had forgotten my lunch {but} no one believed me, so I started hiding in the bathroom {stall} during lunch hour…. When other girls came in and threw away their lunch bags in the garbage pail, I’d retrieved them and return to the stall and polished of my tasty finds ”The major thesis addressed by the author, detailed the struggles she faced throughout her childhood with an alcoholic father and a selfish mother who cared more about her art and happiness than that of her children’s.
Alcohol misuse can affect all aspects of family functioning: social life, finances, good communication, relationships between family members, parenting capability, employment and health issues , It also has a strong correlation with conflicts, disputes and domestic violence which can leave a damaging effect on children. Alcohol misuse often times change the roles played by family member. . Garbarino (1992), “Human services encompasses a broad range of activities, programs and agencies designed to meet the physical, intellectual, and social-emotional needs of individuals and families.
” . As a Child Protective worker, my responsibilities are to assess safety (immediate),risk (future harm), abuse and maltreatment, make adetermination as to whether a child is safe or at risk of future harm and assess the need for services. The child welfare worker assigned to investigate the case failed to ensure the above. Works CitedDowns-Whitelaw, S. , Moore, E.
, , E. J. (2009). Child welfare and family services: Policies and practice, USA: Parson Education Inc. Garbarino, J. (1992).
Children and families in the social environment, New York, NY: Walter De Gruyter Inc. Walls, J. (2005). The glass castle, New York, NY: SCRIBNER.
