Ethnographic Essay

A culture is a complex whole made up of a system of many interdependent components including various aspects of habits acquired by a person as a member of society (Culture). Each culture is made up of subcultures, which are smaller groups of people that differentiate from the larger culture to which they belong. As a result of our country's declining economy, unemployment has become a culture that has created many subcultures, such as the Unemployment Support Group at Jewish Family Services of greater New Haven. Most adults that have lost their jobs during this recession are suffering to make ends meet for their families which can cause emotional stress. The Unemployment Support Group of greater New Haven is a non-religious subculture defined by its beliefs, practices, and appearance whose goal is to help and heal its members who did not specifically choose this lifestyle.

December of the year 2007 marks the starting point of America's economic recession that has yet to be recovered, leaving millions without jobs (Salam). The United States is currently undergoing another painful transition and the only difference from previous depressions is that, so far, there are no ideas as to how this decline will shift. There are not enough jobs being created for the population as a whole (Rich). The unemployment rate is at its highest at 7.3 percent and of the 14.9 million without jobs, over 2.2 million are fifty-five years of age and older (Rich). In this day and age it is easier to find jobs as a working college student with no background than an adult with thirty plus years of experience under their belt (Salam). This is due to the fact that most of these fifty-five year old adults are being seen as "overage" and aren't getting hired.

The unemployed adults are not considered old by anyone, except for business owners. Fifty is the new seventy. Motoko Rich of The New York Times focuses on one unemployed woman, Patricia Reid, age fifty-seven, who many can connect with....