Finale paper

Florida and Neoliberalism 1

Florida and Neoliberalism

Kelsey Geddings

College of Social Work

SOWK 712: Human Behavior and the Social Environment I

Professor Grace

November 30, 2020

Email; [email protected]

Florida and Neoliberalism 2

Abstract

Pop Culture often represents some of our current social struggles. We can view

things within it to understand social theories and how they represent some of the issues

social workers are fighting against. Class struggle can be seen through many things

within pop culture such as television shows, music and movies. In this paper, I discuss

how a movie about a little girl’s adventures reveals specific issues with neoliberalism.

The negative consequences of this economic policy often leaves parents struggling to

provide for their families. Class struggles importance to social workers is also

discussed.

Key words:​ Neoliberalism, Class, Economics, Critique, Social Work

Florida and Neoliberalism 3

The Florida Project ​(Baker, 2013)​ ​is a movie about a young girl who lives in a

motel with her mom. She befriends a girl who lives at the motel next door. Each day,

they adventure around the busy streets of Orlando. They are always getting into trouble,

either by a parent, or the hotel manager. The main character, Moonee, lives with her

young mother. Her mother takes her around selling perfumes at high end resorts, sends

her to a local diner where a friend works for free breakfast, and keeps her in the

bathroom at night when guests come over. Her mother is late on rent and the hotel

manager is constantly asking for payment. This movie represents class struggles and

can be discussed through the viewpoint of a critique of neoliberalism.

Neoliberalism is a type of economics that our society participates in today.

Neoliberalism promotes private industries, deregulation, and less government

involvement. It embodies the “every man for himself” attitude. In neoliberalism,

proponents believe that less government regulation allows for more competition which

can lead to lowering costs. Besides economics, it plays into social issues as well.

According to the lecture, “What is Neoliberalism,” (2013) the term neoliberalism is a way

to explain the social policies of our society over the last 30-40 years. With less

government involvement comes less government aid, programs and resources. This

leaves those who are in lower economic classes with less assistance and makes it

harder for them to move up to a higher class. From a critique’s perspective,

neoliberalism depends on oppression to continue. An example of this is the debate over

healthcare. Those in economic classes are oppressed when it comes to healthcare.

Proponents of neoliberalism do not promote healthcare for all, which hurts those in

lower economic classes. They cannot afford health care, which leads them to avoid

Florida and Neoliberalism 4

doctor visits unless absolutely necessary. This leads to those in lower economic

classes having shorter life expectancies than those in higher classes.

A critique of neoliberalism would recognize some of the struggles caused by this

economic policy in the movie ​The Florida Project. ​Moonee and her mother could not

afford housing. Moonee’s mother did not have a steady job so she depended on selling

stolen products and herself. The individualistic idea behind neoliberalism does not

account for people who are going through hard times and would receive benefits from

more government involvement and assistance. The struggle to stay afloat is highlighted

in Moonee and her mother’s life.

At the end of the movie, Moonee was taken from her mother by someone in law

enforcement. This type of interaction is very real for many social workers. Often social

workers in child welfare are faced with the decision to remove a child from their home.

The root issue behind Moonee’s mother’s actions is not examined, only the mistakes

that are made and when it is too late to correct them. This is significant for social

workers for a few reasons. It is important for social workers to understand, at a micro

and macro level, that people they interact with are sometimes products of a type of

government. If an individual is partaking in illegal activities to pay bills, it could be a

reflection of their economic environment. This theory was eye opening for me because it

allowed me to understand that future clients’ backgrounds must be examined in order to

help with the issues they are facing. It also pushed me to view the repercussions of

neoliberalism through the viewpoint of those in different economic classes than me. It is

vital, as a social worker, to be able to step into others’ shoes in order to best help them.

Florida and Neoliberalism 5

This movie, while comical, highlights the negative side of neoliberalism. Its

policies can leave those who are in lower economic classes struggling and unable to

catch up. Children face the brunt of these situations, often being taken from home. It is

important for social workers to examine a client’s entire situation, not just certain

struggles. Many of the most popular movies can be viewed through a social work theory

that can be applied to real life client interactions.

Florida and Neoliberalism 6

References

Baker, S. (Producer), & Baker, S. (Director). (Oct 6 2017). ​The Florida Project.

(Film). United States: Cre Film & Freestyle Picture Company.

(2013). ​What is Neoliberalism ​(video). Retrieved from https://youtu.be/7kL4p3llmHk.