Author: Barbara Ehrenreich
Pages: 256 Pages
Genre: Non-fiction
Grade: B
Synopsis: Back in the late '90s when the Clinton administration was pushing welfare reform, there was a lot of talk about the low-wage workers in America. To better understand their struggles and to determine whether or not just having a job would allow somebody to climb out of poverty. She spends time as a waitress and hotel maid in Key West, FL, as a housekeeper and nursing home aid in Maine and in retail in Minnesota.
My Review: Back when this book was written, the economy was booming and the federal government was touting that job growth and simply holding down a job would allow people to climb out of poverty. What Ehrenreich found was that as a single person trying to make ends meet on minimum wage was very, very difficult. However, when there were multiple wage earners in a family, home or residence then things were easier to manage. This book provided me an alternate perspective of people struggling financially. I believe that I can be more compassionate in my interactions with these people.
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