Ehrenreich- Assignment 9
In Nickel and Dimed Ehrenreich uses an old fashion method of journalism but going undercover as a low wageworker that “just” got off of welfare. I think there are benefits and drawbacks to this way of conducting research.
Ehrenreich particularly did not conduct her research in an authentic way because she did have some “cushions” to try to make her research a little easier. Generally a woman just coming off of public assistance would not have the luxury of having access to a vehicle. Ehrenreich was able to find affordable long term housing in motel while she looked for a place to live which seemed to be standard for people with low income in Portland Maine where she decided to conduct some of her research. Maine was a location that she chose in order to conduct her research in a area that was very “white” in order to avoid the pressures of being in a low wage work force with other races that would be typical workers in the service industries. Maine was so white that this would not be an issue. She discovers that this is a similar place as some of the other locations that she has been conducting her research. Similar jobs to attain with similar wages for the unskilled woman.
Ehrenreich was able to get jobs as a dietary aide and also as a maid without having any experience in these fields. She is able to meet people/Co Workers at these jobs and is able to learn a different perspective of some of the other struggles these individuals face such as limited funds for childcare or the uneasiness of having to leave your child with someone that you do not fully trust. Also, the struggles of not being able to take a day off because your job will not be secured if you miss a day of work. Being able to have an insider’s perspective of her co-workers was the real benefit of putting herself in this position to conduct this research.
I do partially agree that Ehrenreich did not need to leave her home to fully conduct this research. I think that she could have gotten testimony from different people of all races and from a few different age groups in order to get some stories of what it is like to live as a low wage worker. Besides the benefit of meeting the people she worked with and knowing their stories, I feel like Ehrenreich being a white woman in America who is educated has a slight upper hand compared to others that are living below the poverty line without even realizing it.
