CATEGORY

The Class Politics of Decluttering

by Stephanie Land | July 18, 2016 10:57 am

In a piece published by the New York Times, writing fellow Stephanie Land explores the role that class plays in the minimalist movement. She writes that, for many Americans, a minimalist life is an economic necessity and not a lifestyle choice.  For those struggling to get by, living with even less is neither desirable nor possible.

She also writes that the perception of deal-hunting Black Friday shoppers as examples of the evils of consumerism shames low-income shoppers who need sales to be able to afford otherwise unattainable items. Ultimately, she argues that low-income families do not stand to benefit from the minimalist movement.

To read the full story, click here.

Related Articles

What Living in a High-Poverty Neighborhood Taught Me About Protests

Photo credits to Dorret.  Originally published in TalkPoverty.  About 13 years ago, I lived in Charleston, South Carolina, where I…

Announcing, my forthcoming memoir: MAID: A Single Mother’s Journey from Cleaning House to Finding Home

On June 16th, I celebrated my youngest daughter Coraline’s second birthday. While she opened presents, I relished the memory of…

Surburbia Isn't Just Soccer Moms and Perfect Lawns Anymore

Photo credits to Cameron Parkins.  Originally published on TalkPoverty and The Nation. When my father, aunt, and uncle decided to…

What Happens When You Can't Afford Self-care

Originally published on Talk Poverty. For the last year, I have been keenly aware of my dire need for two…

The Answer is Muhammad Ali: Who else?

Originally published in the Huffington Post. For most of my life, I haven’t idolized sports heroes. I may be the…

Sheryl Sandberg Thinks She Finally Gets Single Moms, But She Doesn’t Get Me

Originally posted in SheKnows. I read Sheryl Sandberg’s recent Facebook post from the trenches of a horrible Mother’s Day weekend.…