Post by katieblock on Aug 3, 2011 0:49:17 GMT -5
Barbara Ehrenreich maintains a positive outlook and "Go Getter!" attitude throughout the book before she begins each job; each is a new adventure. Barbara sets out to do her work and to do it well. Sadly, on page 86, the attitude of positive Barbara after completing her first week at The Maids changes. She states, "The superwoman mood does not last." Barbara then proceeds to tell about the hardships of working at The Maids. Barbara's problem is only a rash, but Lori and Pauline have bad backs, Helen has a bum foot, Marge has arthritis, and Rosalie has a shoulder problem. Barbara writes about how help was not properly given to these people and how they live in a world of pain solved, or temporarily managed, by Excedrin, Advil, cigarettes, and sometimes booze.
Living in a world of pain while doing a job was unsettling to me. It was a part in the book that really bothered me. Why would someone continue a job if it only caused them pain? The answer is because they do what they have to do. If my job at Baskin Robbins caused me pain each day I don't think I could continue to do it, but my job isn't a must for me. My food, water, shelter, and clothing are paid for by my parents. For the maids in Nickel and Dimed, they're working a minimum wage job for food, water, shelter, and clothing and many workers are doing this for multiple people, so they must continue with their job through the pain.
One of the maids in the book, Holly, hurts her ankle. Hurting an ankle is a kind of injury that could really slow you down in the cleaning business. There aren’t many things one can clean while sitting. The idea of one injury putting you out of work made me consider my own life. Last year around wintertime I slipped and hurt my wrist pretty badly. I landed myself in the ER and ended up having a hard time writing for class with a giant brace. Now if I had hurt my right wrist only a few months later, I wouldn’t have a scooping wrist at my job. Even though it’s hard for Holly to walk and she’s in pain she continues to work. Holly is stubborn and pushes herself even though Barbara believes she should stop and rest. Holly states she continues to work because she is stubborn, but I believe the underlying issue is that Holly needs the pay; she can't afford to stop. Ted, The Maids boss, ends up giving Holly a day off to go home and rest. The resting was prompted by an outburst from Barbara. We never learn from the book if Holly was paid for her day of rest or not, but I believe it was a not.
Why do people continue to work through tough and outrageous conditions? That is a question I seem to ask myself throughout the book and there is only one answer: they have no other option.
Living in a world of pain while doing a job was unsettling to me. It was a part in the book that really bothered me. Why would someone continue a job if it only caused them pain? The answer is because they do what they have to do. If my job at Baskin Robbins caused me pain each day I don't think I could continue to do it, but my job isn't a must for me. My food, water, shelter, and clothing are paid for by my parents. For the maids in Nickel and Dimed, they're working a minimum wage job for food, water, shelter, and clothing and many workers are doing this for multiple people, so they must continue with their job through the pain.
One of the maids in the book, Holly, hurts her ankle. Hurting an ankle is a kind of injury that could really slow you down in the cleaning business. There aren’t many things one can clean while sitting. The idea of one injury putting you out of work made me consider my own life. Last year around wintertime I slipped and hurt my wrist pretty badly. I landed myself in the ER and ended up having a hard time writing for class with a giant brace. Now if I had hurt my right wrist only a few months later, I wouldn’t have a scooping wrist at my job. Even though it’s hard for Holly to walk and she’s in pain she continues to work. Holly is stubborn and pushes herself even though Barbara believes she should stop and rest. Holly states she continues to work because she is stubborn, but I believe the underlying issue is that Holly needs the pay; she can't afford to stop. Ted, The Maids boss, ends up giving Holly a day off to go home and rest. The resting was prompted by an outburst from Barbara. We never learn from the book if Holly was paid for her day of rest or not, but I believe it was a not.
Why do people continue to work through tough and outrageous conditions? That is a question I seem to ask myself throughout the book and there is only one answer: they have no other option.