Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
When Barbara Ehrenreich took up the challenge from her editor to see if she could survive on low income jobs, she did not know where it would take her. Six jobs and three cities later, she wrote this book. It is a small examination of what it is like to be among the working poor in the late 1990s and early 2000s.* It is an eye opening experience. Things like housing, food, and worker treatment are thrust in her face. When Ehrenreich becomes part of the invisible class, she discovers that the existence is difficult, and finding a way out is almost impossible. Books like this are a fantastic primer into studying poverty and income inequality. Ehrenreich's prose makes the book very accessible, and she tackles a difficult topic with great ease.
This is not to say that the book is above criticism. First, Ehrenreich skips a vital part of being someone who is working poor. In each city, she allows herself to rent a car. This is a fantastic luxury. Transportation and transportation costs are one of the largest concerns among low income earners. She glazes over it, and never addresses it. I feel like the book could have been a richer and deeper experience had she had to coordinate a bus route to her job. That is part of the daily experience of many people I know.
Second, I absolutely hated the way Ehrenreich quit her jobs. She simply walked out on each and every one of them. I realize that she was using the experiences as part of a book, but it just struck me as so deeply unprofessional and privileged to toss a job aside like that. Two weeks notice is something that everyone, no matter what part of the socioeconomic strata, should give. It grated on me so much that I nearly refused to finish the book. The jobs she was working were not something disposable to her coworkers. They did not have the privilege to walk away when they were tired of it. Ehrenreich not acknowledging that is terribly frustrating.
Lastly, there were moments in the book where Ehrenreich's tone felt patronizing. Most of the companies that she sought employment with used pre-employment screening to weed out undesirable candidates. The vast majority of the time this was a personality test. At one point, she screams at another co-worker that "anyone" could pass that test, it was easy. No. Not everyone Barbara. Not women who are functionally illiterate who never graduated from high school.
Circling back around, this book is worth reading. It gives a great starting point for understanding the plight of the working poor in the United States. Yes, there may be some frustrating aspects to it, but the overall theme of the book still rings true. Before I wrap up this write up, I would like to direct my readers to Spent. It is an online game that allows one to experience, in less than ten minutes, what it is like to live as a low income worker. The choices are difficult, the game is rigged, but to some it may be an eye opener. Click the link and let me know how it goes.
Moving on, I need a break, so I am delving back into the world of YA Lit. Variant just came out a few days ago, and it is begging for a write up.
*Part of the reason I noted the dates is due to the fact this book is 11 years old. Ehrenreich wrote and experienced this book during one of our last economic booms. The plight of the working poor is much more difficult today than it was 11 years ago.
When Barbara Ehrenreich took up the challenge from her editor to see if she could survive on low income jobs, she did not know where it would take her. Six jobs and three cities later, she wrote this book. It is a small examination of what it is like to be among the working poor in the late 1990s and early 2000s.* It is an eye opening experience. Things like housing, food, and worker treatment are thrust in her face. When Ehrenreich becomes part of the invisible class, she discovers that the existence is difficult, and finding a way out is almost impossible. Books like this are a fantastic primer into studying poverty and income inequality. Ehrenreich's prose makes the book very accessible, and she tackles a difficult topic with great ease.
This is not to say that the book is above criticism. First, Ehrenreich skips a vital part of being someone who is working poor. In each city, she allows herself to rent a car. This is a fantastic luxury. Transportation and transportation costs are one of the largest concerns among low income earners. She glazes over it, and never addresses it. I feel like the book could have been a richer and deeper experience had she had to coordinate a bus route to her job. That is part of the daily experience of many people I know.
Second, I absolutely hated the way Ehrenreich quit her jobs. She simply walked out on each and every one of them. I realize that she was using the experiences as part of a book, but it just struck me as so deeply unprofessional and privileged to toss a job aside like that. Two weeks notice is something that everyone, no matter what part of the socioeconomic strata, should give. It grated on me so much that I nearly refused to finish the book. The jobs she was working were not something disposable to her coworkers. They did not have the privilege to walk away when they were tired of it. Ehrenreich not acknowledging that is terribly frustrating.
Lastly, there were moments in the book where Ehrenreich's tone felt patronizing. Most of the companies that she sought employment with used pre-employment screening to weed out undesirable candidates. The vast majority of the time this was a personality test. At one point, she screams at another co-worker that "anyone" could pass that test, it was easy. No. Not everyone Barbara. Not women who are functionally illiterate who never graduated from high school.
Circling back around, this book is worth reading. It gives a great starting point for understanding the plight of the working poor in the United States. Yes, there may be some frustrating aspects to it, but the overall theme of the book still rings true. Before I wrap up this write up, I would like to direct my readers to Spent. It is an online game that allows one to experience, in less than ten minutes, what it is like to live as a low income worker. The choices are difficult, the game is rigged, but to some it may be an eye opener. Click the link and let me know how it goes.
Moving on, I need a break, so I am delving back into the world of YA Lit. Variant just came out a few days ago, and it is begging for a write up.
*Part of the reason I noted the dates is due to the fact this book is 11 years old. Ehrenreich wrote and experienced this book during one of our last economic booms. The plight of the working poor is much more difficult today than it was 11 years ago.
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