Introduction
Illiteracy is the inability to read or write. While the United State provides free public school education to all of its citizens, many remain uneducated. There is a common belief that people who can't read or write are stupid. This is usually not the case. Such people are smart because they have developed the skills to get through life while hiding their illiteracy. However, this fundamental lack of basic skills inhibits most people from achieving success in many areas of life. Illiteracy has profound effects in the life of the person who can't read, and it also affects on the rest of society as well.
Poverty and Illiteracy
One of the main problems of illiteracy is that is can be passed from generation to generation. Adults who are illiterate have an increased chance of having illiterate children. If the parent is skilled at hiding their illiteracy, the children may think that they can also get through life without learning read. The value of an education is usually not presented to these children so they are more likely to drop out of school. This can lead to a life of poverty.
The best-paying jobs require years of education. Without a degree or skills, many illiterate people are forced to take minimum wage jobs. If a person is laid off or their jobs become obsolete they do not have the reading skills to retrain in a new field. Also many low-paying jobs have no health benefits. This leads to poor health care for the illiterate person and his family.
Health Care and Illiteracy
While there are clinics that cater to poor people, many illiterate people are intimidated by the many forms that have to be read and filled out before receiving medical attention. People who are reluctant to admit they cannot read the forms may not seek medical care. When a health crisis occurs, the person goes to the emergency room, but the health of the person may be seriously compromised at his late stage of the illness. Another health risk for illiterate people is the inability to read the prescription bottle and to take the right medication at the right dosage. Costs for treatment increase as an illness progresses. In some cases, an illness could have been prevented by prompt medical care.
Other Problems of Illiteracy
Other issues relating to illiteracy affect most aspects of a person's life. Not being able to read street signs means that a person may frequently get lost, especially when traveling to new places such as for a job interview. A person who cannot read cannot pass the driver's test to learn to operate a car, truck or van. Even applying for welfare, food stamps and Medicaid requires reading and filling out forms.
Shopping for food is also a problem if a person can't read the labels. This is especially important if someone in the family has dietary restrictions or allergies. Even reading "TV Guide" to find a favorite show is not possible. Without the ability to read and do research, an illiterate person has to accept what she is told instead of reading about new or different ideas and forming her own opinion.
Illiteracy traps a person in a narrow life. Society bears the economic burden of illiteracy. While statistically less than 5 percent of Americans can't read, illiteracy is still considered by many to be a disease or an epidemic that affect all members of the society.
Tags: illiterate people, cannot read, hiding their, hiding their illiteracy, illiterate person