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The author of Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich, tried an experiment to see if she could survive on low wages, particularly the low wages for women in the American society. She wondered how low income workers survived on a daily basis, and wanted to try it out for herself. She aimed to uncover the tricks of low income workers surviving on less than $8 an hour. To do this, she set three rules for the experiment. Ehrenreich says “Rule one, obviously enough, was that I could not, in my search for jobs, fall back on any skills derived from my education or usual work…Two, I had to take the highest-paying job that was offered me and do my best to hold it…Three, I had to take the cheapest accommodations I could find.” (Ehrenreich 2001, p. 9).
She ended up breaking all of these rules at some point in her journey. She tells an employer she could greet guests in other languages than English, breaking rule one (Ehrenreich 2001, p. 10).
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This one seemed like an accident, as she was just trying her best to get the job, and was just saying she could communicate with European tourists. She did not take the highest paying job offered once, either. She was offered $10 an hour, but the hours were incredibly long every day (Ehrenreich 2001, p. 85). She also could not find a decent place that was the cheapest, so she broke rule three as well. I think it would be very hard to stick to these rules completely.
I do not blame her for breaking them, as most low wage workers probably have to break them at some point as well, due to the same circumstances.
The hardest part for Ehrenreich to find an affordable place to live was her job in Maine. She was stuck in a hotel for a long time, due to the fact that in Maine, she had to show proof of stable employment, and to have stable employment, she needed an address (Ehrenreich 2001, p. 33). So, Ehrenreich was stuck in a motel for her Maine adventure (Ehrenreich 2001, p. 34). The cost of living in Maine is also very high. The challenges that low wage workers face can be extreme, just how it was for the author. They may have to move around constantly, looking for better pay. They may not be able to find affordable housing, and might be in the same situation as Ehrenreich. Also, the fact that low wage workers need proof of stable employment when getting housing makes it very difficult. Many of them are bouncing job to job, working paycheck to paycheck just to get by. For these reasons, Ehrenreich and many low wage workers struggle to find a place to live.
Ehrenreich has a big problem with the poverty line in the United States. The main issue is the failure to calculate housing into costs effectively, and also the poor housing market causing housing prices to be too high (Ehrenreich 2001, p. 110). Many Americans cannot afford rent or mortgage, electricity, or water altogether. She claims that it sounds great that “only” 13 percent of Americans live in poverty, but she also recognizes that the poverty line is set very low (Ehrenreich 2001, p. 109). It seems to me that being poor is not the same as being poverty-stricken. At her maid job in Maine, she realized that at the median level of pay for housekeeping jobs, they are making $23 less a week than the established poverty line in this country. Ehrenreich got paid a mere $43 above the poverty line (Ehrenreich 2001, p. 38). What this means, on a national level, is that the established poverty line in the United States is set way too low. Most low wage workers either make below or dangerously close to the poverty line. Say, for example, the low wage worker is a single mother. She would have a big difficulty providing for her kid(s). Furthermore, Ehrenreich explains that, in a study done by a housing analyst, 28 percent of households that make under $30,000 a year (which is 200 percent above the poverty line) reported struggles paying housing costs. Further than that, 73 percent of households paying over 50 percent of their income in housing expenses reported being pressed by rising property taxes (Ehrenreich 2001, p. 94). One problem with this that I see is the fact that $30,000 a year is considered 200 percent above the poverty line. If so many families report hardships making under that amount, why is the poverty line set so low? The basic needs of any living creature are food, water, and shelter. If families well above the established poverty line are reporting troubles with paying for shelter, I would argue that these families are poverty-stricken. I would also argue that the poverty line should be raised and low wage workers should be recognized as poverty-stricken.
Ehrenreich argues that low wage workers are the “major philanthropists of our society”. She believes they give more than they get. She calls them the “anonymous donors” (Ehrenreich 2001, p. 120). I believe this to be true as well. A lot of low wage workers are probably supporting a family. This means most of their income goes toward the economy, family, basic needs, living expenses, etc. There is not a lot to be said for the individual making the low wage, as there is not a whole lot of income left for themselves and their own personal needs. Therefore, they are usually giving more than they receive. Ehrenreich also says “they live in substandard housing so that other homes will be shiny and perfect” (Ehrenreich 2001, p. 120). They are taking up less desired homes to save room for the better off families to have a decent living situation. While unintentional, I would argue that low wage workers give more than anyone else in our society. It is for these reasons I would agree that low wage workers are the major philanthropists of our society.
Ehrenreich sees a clear advantage in her experiment: the fact that she is white and a native English speaker. She sees this advantage throughout the duration of the adventure. For example, when Ehrenreich is applying for housekeeping jobs (a job that many minorities typically work), she is told her skills would be better suited elsewhere (Ehrenreich 2001, p. 11). She was told waitressing would be a better option, and she interpreted it as it would be best for her ethnicity and language ability. This is basically telling her that housekeeping jobs are not a job for a white, English speaking individual. Another small advantage that was prominent during the job search process was the wanted ads in the newspaper. The fact that she was fluent in English allowed her to read the listings in the newspaper, whereas a native Hispanic or Asian individual may not be able to read them, for example. Many minority workers are stuck in terrible jobs just to get by, whereas a white individual often has many options. This showed in the experiment, as she seemed to always be choosing between a few job offers. Overall, this experiment showed a huge gap between ethnicities and jobs over a small scale, but also showed how it is every day for minorities in the United States.
The story Nickel and Dimed really opened my eyes to true poverty in the United States. I knew it existed, but when someone thinks of the United States, they often think of opportunities to grow and a great place to live. This is clearly not a reality for most working families. The fact that most low wage workers are not considered poverty-stricken and cannot receive government help because of this is ridiculous, in my opinion. The poverty line should be raised, and minority workers should be treated as equals in the workplace. The housing market needs to take a second look at their policies, as they are screwing over many families. Also, there are few opportunities for families to get back on their feet once they drop into the poverty class. The poverty problem is hardly recognized as a problem in the United States, most likely due to this country’s massive ego. It needs to be recognized as a problem, addressed, and completely fixed to ensure the future of young American children.
Nickel and Dimed: a Story About True Poverty in The US. (2024, Feb 20). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/nickel-and-dimed-a-story-about-true-poverty-in-the-us-essay
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