Summary Of Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel And Dimed

Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting by in America is a critically acclaimed investigative biography of a reporter going undercover to see how individuals manage to live on minimum wage across America. More specifically, Barbara was curious about how were “the roughly four million women about to be booted into the labor market by welfare reform going to make it on $6 or $7 an hour” (1)? Ehrenreich developed a plan and some rules for her undercover research for finding jobs, housing, and living expenses. The research for this book covered a span of three states, Florida, Maine, and Minnesota, between spring of 1998 and summer of 2000. The first place Barbara decided to start learning what life would be like working at low-wage

She believed, “ It made it the perfect place for a blue-eyed, English-speaking Caucasian to infiltrate the low-wage workforce, no questions asked” (51). Upon her arrival, she stayed at a Motel 6 until she had found an apartment and a job. After a short search, Ehrenreich settled on a cottage that was $120 a week; she admitted she probably could have found a cheaper place if she searched a while longer. She gets a job cleaning houses at “Merry Maids” that paid $6.65 an hour. Ehrenreich discovered that maid work is arduous and had countless negative experiences at this job. First, they worked under grueling conditions such as being forced to practice ineffectual cleaning methods the company demanded. One being she was forced to scrub floors on her hands and knees instead of using a mop. Ehrenreich and coworkers would also have to work later then they scheduled time and were not paid for this time. Not long into this job, Ehrenreich developed a serious rash from the latex gloves she had to use. Her boss insisted that she was fine to work even though the rash became so severe that she had to break a rule and call her dermatologist for a prescription. In Maine, Ehrenreich also learned what it felt like to endure the judgment and cruelty inflicted on low-wage workers. She discovered that there are a variety of services provided for low-wage workers; they are often only available during working hours,

She initially stayed in a friend’s apartment while they were out of town. She applied for retail jobs and was called to attend orientation at both Wal-Mart and Menard’s after her surveys and drug tests were completed. Menard’s originally told Ehrenreich that her salary would be $10 dollars an hour but was later informed otherwise and was told she would not be paid time and a half for working an 11 hour shift. Infuriated, she settled on a job Wal-Mart that paid $7 dollars an hour. She was placed to work in the ladies department and gradually improved working at Wal-Mart. Near the end of her job there, Ehrenreich tried to convince other employees to fight to become unionized. She met with people and discussed ideas to do so but she did not believe enough people would commit to have one established. Ehrenreich finally left work at Wal-Mart after struggling with her housing situation and simply feeling