Nickel and Dimed
How do they deal with poverty and working low-wage jobs? What emotional and psychological stresses do these women undergo working under this demoralizing system?
From your perspective, what type of person is Barbara Ehrenreich? She has a Ph.D. in Biology and is an academic writer and a Social Activist. However, what are her strengths and weaknesses, and how does she locate herself in this narrative? As a critical thinker, what have you observed about Ehrenreich’s personality?
Ehrenreich assumed that she would be treated better in Maine because she was white, like most of Main’s population. However, she learned that wearing her maid’s uniform exposed her to discrimination. How did Ehrenreich cope with her sell-imposed poverty while working as a maid for the wealthy? What emotional duress did she succumb to working as a low-wage earner? How did they cope with the hands and knee cleaning, and what is it designed to do? What is so ironic about their cleaning methods?
While working for the Maids, Ted claims that he is not a bad guy and cares a lot about his girls. His proprietary and abusive treatment of these women are manipulative. Why do they try so hard to him? Explain the emotional and psychological Social-Economics of Poverty in this situation.
Review the chapter entitled, Evaluation. According to Ehrenreich, she earned a B+ for what she accomplished as a
low-wage worker. What did she accomplish? Do you agree with Ehrenreich’s self-evaluation or disagree? What grade would you give her and why?
At the outset of her Evaluation chapter, the author seems to arrive at a new understanding of “unskilled labor.” Explain this new understanding. Do you agree with it? Why or why not? Compare her rules; in the beginning, did she stay in character?
What did she learn about low-wage- workers and solidarity? Do you admire her or find her disingenuous?