Ep 12. Two American Families

In season 31 episode 12 of Frontline, titled "Two American Families," viewers are taken on a journey following two families from Milwaukee, Wisconsin over the course of two decades, starting in 1992.

The Stanley and Neumann families, both white and middle-class, face the harsh economic realities of living in an increasingly unequal society. Through interviews with the families themselves, their friends, and their coworkers, Frontline paints a vivid picture of the struggles these families face as they try to maintain a stable financial footing.

Despite both parents in each family working full-time jobs, they are unable to keep up with rising costs of living. The Neumanns see their wages stagnating while their expenses continue to rise with medical bills and education expenses for their children. The Stanleys face a similar situation, with a father who is laid off from his job in manufacturing and has to contend with limited job opportunities in their area.

As the years pass, both families experience job loss, foreclosures, and missed opportunities. However, they continue to persevere and try to maintain some semblance of normalcy in their lives. The documentary showcases the impact of these struggles on the families' mental health, relationships, and their children's futures.

Throughout the episode, viewers are given a glimpse into the systemic factors that contribute to the challenges faced by these families. The stagnation of wages, offshoring of manufacturing jobs, and increasing costs of education and healthcare are all factors that are explored in-depth.

Despite the grim outlook, the documentary also highlights the families' resilience and hope for a better future. They continue to advocate for themselves and their families, seeking out any opportunity to improve their lives.

"Two American Families" is a powerful and poignant reminder of the realities faced by many Americans in a society that continues to shift towards greater economic inequality. It serves as a call to action for policymakers and society as a whole to address these systemic issues and work towards a more equitable future.