Recently, I spent two hours interviewing a 55-year-old white woman for my doctoral research. She told me stories about her childhood, family, school, and work, as well as her struggles with everything from finances and relationships to medical care and insurance.

She explained why she enrolled in an adult education class for people considering college or job training: She wants stability and respect. Her father was a truck driver, and neither he nor her mother finished high school. Only one of her seven siblings finished, and she herself dropped out in 10th grade.

After nine years at a paper mill, she took a leave to care for her mother, who soon died of colon cancer. Later, she worked at another mill for 17 years, got carpal tunnel in both wrists, spoke to her boss about poor conditions on the floor, and suddenly found herself terminated.

Toward the end of our conversation, she matter-of-factly added, “And that’s why I voted for Trump. We just need a change.’’ After the interview, I sat in my car and trembled. This woman — with such a painful history and a deep desire for a better life — this woman is not the enemy.

Janet Kaplan Bucciarelli, Amherst