Nickel and Dimed
BY: Barbara Ehrenreich
SUMMARY: Nickel and Dimed chronicles Ehrenreich’s experience as she conducts a scientific experiment to uncover how unskilled workers with low-paying jobs can survive in today’s economy. Given that in 1998, 30% of the American workforce worked for 8 dollars an hour, or less. In order to uncover the tricks that these low-paid workers used to survive financially, Ehrenreich decided to leave the comfort of her lifestyle and enter the workforce as a low paid employee, and thus also find cheap accommodations to support herself. She decides to set her own rules for the experiment: 1) she will not fall back on skills that she acquired through her education and her previous work experience; 2) she must take the highest paying job and try to sustain that position; and 3) she had to find the cheapest accommodations for living, that still met her standards of safety and privacy.
One of the locations she decided to try living was in Key West, Florida. She took a job as a waitress at the “Hearthside” where she earned about $2.43 an hour plus tips. Ehrenreich also meets many other employees and learns about their struggles as a low-paid employee. She learns that living is rather expensive even for living in a trailer park in comparison to the amount made by these low-paid employees. She also learns of the problems they face with health-care and benefits. Therefore, in order to sustain herself with a trailer, Ehrenreich takes on a second waitressing job.
Ehrenreich realizes that she wouldn’t really experience poverty to the scale these real low-paid workers are experiencing. She realizes that she has an advantage over many other low-paid workers, since she is white and a native English speaker. The goal of her experiment was to match income to expenses as individuals in poverty do everyday.
One of the locations she decided to try living was in Key West, Florida. She took a job as a waitress at the “Hearthside” where she earned about $2.43 an hour plus tips. Ehrenreich also meets many other employees and learns about their struggles as a low-paid employee. She learns that living is rather expensive even for living in a trailer park in comparison to the amount made by these low-paid employees. She also learns of the problems they face with health-care and benefits. Therefore, in order to sustain herself with a trailer, Ehrenreich takes on a second waitressing job.
Ehrenreich realizes that she wouldn’t really experience poverty to the scale these real low-paid workers are experiencing. She realizes that she has an advantage over many other low-paid workers, since she is white and a native English speaker. The goal of her experiment was to match income to expenses as individuals in poverty do everyday.
ANALYSIS: Ehrenreich’s experience in “poverty” shed light on many struggles immigrants face as newcomers in America. She mentioned that the application process was difficult, however, she found that she was more successful throughout the process because English was her first language, unlike many other applicants. Many of her other coworkers, were foreign and came to America in search for opportunity, especially in the workforce. However, the reality is that many of these immigrants face many difficulties integrating into American society. Language is a huge barrier for employees, thus they are obligated to learn the dominant language. Many of the immigrants that she worked with, also came to America with little to nothing. All seeking new opportunity in America, especially financial stability. Ehrenreich mentioned that many of her fellow co workers also left their children behind in their home country, and were sending money back to them.
Through her experiment, she discovered that it was difficult for anyone, and especially immigrants, to meet the financial standards through low-paid work. Many of the immigrants mentioned in “Nickel and Dimed”, were just barely scraping by in regards to finances. However, some individuals had the opportunity to achieve upward mobility through hard work, where they were promoted to higher positions such as managing, within their companies. Like mentioned in the interview before, immigrants generally must work harder to get the same effects as a native born American. Thus, these immigrants must persevere and work hard in society in order to just barely thrive economically. Even though immigrants contribute to national prosperity, this is an example of area within our society that struggles, people making it out of poverty. Upward mobility is possible, however it is harder depending on the origin of the individual. “Nickel and Dimed” shows that many immigrants start out in low-paying jobs when they are still not accustomed to society. However, as they integrate into American society, immigrants can achieve a form of economic upward mobility. People all around the world view America as the land of opportunity through the economic success of immigrants. Furthermore, this novel provides evidence that through the stories of immigrant perseverance through hardships, it shows that consistency and hard work provides one with upward mobility, and thus keeping the "American Dream" alive in society.
Through her experiment, she discovered that it was difficult for anyone, and especially immigrants, to meet the financial standards through low-paid work. Many of the immigrants mentioned in “Nickel and Dimed”, were just barely scraping by in regards to finances. However, some individuals had the opportunity to achieve upward mobility through hard work, where they were promoted to higher positions such as managing, within their companies. Like mentioned in the interview before, immigrants generally must work harder to get the same effects as a native born American. Thus, these immigrants must persevere and work hard in society in order to just barely thrive economically. Even though immigrants contribute to national prosperity, this is an example of area within our society that struggles, people making it out of poverty. Upward mobility is possible, however it is harder depending on the origin of the individual. “Nickel and Dimed” shows that many immigrants start out in low-paying jobs when they are still not accustomed to society. However, as they integrate into American society, immigrants can achieve a form of economic upward mobility. People all around the world view America as the land of opportunity through the economic success of immigrants. Furthermore, this novel provides evidence that through the stories of immigrant perseverance through hardships, it shows that consistency and hard work provides one with upward mobility, and thus keeping the "American Dream" alive in society.