Sanchez Tallone 1

Sanchez Tallone, Sofia

LBST-1102-400
Bread & Roses Writing Assignment
September 28, 2013

Bread & Roses is a perfect depiction of how socioeconomic class functions in the United
States. Although the film was released in 2000, thirteen years later the situation is very much the
same. Classes are well defined and gaining equal rights is not easy for the lower class as the
upper class does not easily give up its power. The film supports and challenges many
ideological views of the socioeconomic class that have been explored in the class readings such
as the class systems, the American Dream and corporate capitalism.
The film depicts the struggle of the lower class as they attempt to gain equality in the
form of office cleaners demanding employee benefits in their building. The main character
Maya is an illegal alien she is reportedly told through out the movie that she is lower than lower
class and is paid even less because of her immigration status. Mayas fellow coworkers are all
low class and are often looked down upon on management. In order to get their employee
benefits the workers had to unionize and face loosing their jobs. After a long battle they gained
their benefits, but if the workers had been middle class they would have not had to fight for their
rights.
The management is composed of middle class workers who look down on the lower class
workers and constantly scold them. I think this is done to retain a certain level of power. The
building owners represent the upper class and are composed of rich bankers and talent firms for
actors. In the film they are depicted, as being so above and oblivious they almost didnt know
about the conflict for employee benefits until a large demonstration occurs.

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The American Dream is challenged in the film, although wonderful and inspiring in
theory it is extremely unrealistic. This is shown through Rosa, Mayas older sister, who has
sacrificed everything and has gotten little in return. The white picket fence, stress free
environment portrayed by the American dream is what everyone hopes to achieve but it cannot
be achieved by all because of the class system. The class system is were citizens are very aware
of their class standing and social worth (Benshoff and Griffin 167) Rosa worked all her life to
maintain her family even resorting to prostitution to feed her family as a last resort. No matter
how hard she works or how good she is at a task she will never achieve the American Dream
because she is in the lower class.
Corporate Capitalism the economic competition among corporations (Benshoff and
Griffin168) is also strongly depicted in this movie, as the company that owns the building is
more interested in their profits than the well being of the people who work in their building.
Businessmen and businesswoman dont even take a single glance at the workers who clean their
building pretending they are merely office supplies. This is a perfect example of how
corporations are more motivated by profit and are willing to infringe some basic rights to insure
their profit is maximized.
In conclusion Bread & Roses provides several examples of the United States being a
socioeconomic society. It also demonstrates that hard work can get you opportunities, but those
new opportunities can only get you so far because of the class system. The film supports and
challenges many of ideological views of the socioeconomic class that have been explored in the
class readings such as the class systems, the American Dream and corporate capitalism and how
these components make life for immigrants like Maya challenging.

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Bibliography
Benshoff, Harry M., and Griffin, Sean. America on Film. Malden: WilleyBlackwell,2009 . Print