Analysis Of Nickel And Dimed

758 Words2 Pages

People all over the globe get to the United States in hopes of becoming rich with minimal effort yet, many Americans are suffering, earning minimum wage which has developed quickly in America. In Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich (2001), it illustrates how it’s like for an unskilled women to be forced into the labor market by the welfare reform. Many women’s work endless hours and still are not able to make ends meet to fulfill necessary needs to sustain their household. In order to receive a better understanding Barbara went undercover, abandoning her lifestyles as a journalist and her existing situation to work various minimum wage jobs just to ascertain out if it’s indeed possible to survive on low paying occupations. In Nickel and Dimed, Barbara uses vivid description and sarcasm to present the dark existence of low wage worker. In Nickel and Dimed we discover how Barbara uses many writing techniques in order to compel the reader to commiserate with the low wage worker. When applying for a job at a local supermarket, she notices that the interview process is done by the computer. Barbara is in shock and writes, “apparently, no human on the premises is deemed capable of representing the corporate point of view” (13). This demonstrates Barbara sarcasm to point out that it seems that no person can select the time to identify whether someone is suitable for a job. On the other hand, Barbara uses more sarcasm when she first walks into Jerry’s, a local eatery, where she is thinking to applying. Barbara’s first opinion of the restaurant is by stating, “everything you might eat if eating had no bodily consequences-the cheese fries, the chicken-fried steaks, the fudge-laden desserts-only here every bite must be paid for one way o... ... middle of paper ... ...ousing is impossible and remains out of reach and this is what Barbara is trying to make the reader understand. Minimum wage should be raise so individuals can have a deserving lifestyle for themselves and their family. In conclusion, 'Nickel and Dimed' taught me a great deal which the book focuses on sociology, and how society functions, around different jobs; provide poor wages for individuals that are not a professional and just settle for whatever they will be getting paid. The author's manner of writing was very descriptive; however, she has valid and interesting points to make. It appeared to me that, as a reporter, she could have done more or done a better research on low pay workers and how it involves the American life. But, of course, this book is more or less presenting the truth and helping us realize how bad the economy is and how people are suffering.

Open Document