Monday, September 12, 2011

Nickel & Dimed- Section III

1. Please comment/ reflect on the last section of the book.  Reference the text for support.  2. Comment on a classmate's post.

Type in MS Word, spell check & copy & paste.
End your comment w/ your first name & period.

65 comments:

  1. “…but she’s brought me a sandwich for lunch. This is because I’d told her I was living in a motel almost entirely on fast food, she felt sorry for me.”(163)
    This quote reminds me of The Grapes of Wrath, when people were in the same situation they would help each other out. Now, instead of Barbra helping everyone out, Melissa is helping her.

    -Karlie Period 1

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  2. What hit me most in "Selling in Minnesota" occurred within the first few pages when she is finding somewhere to live. She finds a cozy place to stay that is "furnished by the Salvation Army and done up in late seventies graduate student decor..."(p.123). However, she finds that she has to live with a bird, a cockatiel. At first, I didn't think much of it, but then she reminds her readers that "...people who depend on the generosity of others for their lodging always have something untoward to put up with..."(p.123). I found this a bit difficult to comprehend. If it was family she had been staying with, I suppose I would be able to understand a bit more, as it would have been like a relative or obnoxious roommate, but this is a rented space, and the owners don't seem to allow the bird, Budgie, anywhere else. I believe that if someone is being "generous," they should be with all their heart, not just partial caring. And, anyway, Budgie was their bird, wasn't he? So why would they allow him to stay with a strange woman they hardly know? It just doesn't seem right to me, in any way I look at it.

    Brianna D. Per. 1

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  3. I found it interesting that working at Walmart brought out the best in some people and the worst in others. Barbara had a coworker named Melissa who heard about her living conditions and felt bad so she offered to buy her lunch. Working at Walmart seemed to bring out the best in Melissa. However, another one of Barbara’s coworkers started bugging her about putting clothes in the wrong section. This angered Barbara and she soon found herself hoping that her coworker would fall off the ladder she often used to reach the top shelves. Also, she found herself thinking, “At least he gets to sit,” when she saw an employee that was in a wheelchair. While Barbara was working at Walmart she kept having these negative thoughts that she wasn’t used to having. I thought it was interesting to see how your work environment influences your emotions.

    –Kelly Loftis Period 1

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  4. I’m surprised that large corporations such as Wal-Mart would treat their employees with such disrespect. The healthcare doesn’t cover everyone’s needs, employees aren’t being paid for overtime, and there are no employee benefits. The company puts a lot of emphasis on serving the customer and making sure he/she is being well treated, but the same isn’t being said about the actual employees. I thought that a larger company became large and powerful not only because of business decisions, but also the way it treated its workers. In the footnote about past issues with Wal-Mart, Barbara writes,"Wal-Mart employees have sued the retail chain for unpaid overtime in four states—West Virginia, New Mexico, Oregon, and Colorado…Instead of paying time and a half for overtime work, the company would reward workers with ‘desired schedule changes, promotions and other benefits,’ while workers who refused the unpaid overtime were ‘threatened with write-ups, demotions, reduced work schedules or docked pay.’ (183). It’s surprising that stuff like this hasn’t been made more aware to the public. I didn’t think that the workers were treated terribly by management and the company itself. I think with the problems that Barbara and her coworkers are facing, forming a union would be a sensible and reasonable idea that they should act upon. If something is unjust, change can be made if everyone can come together and fight for it.

    -Kelly D. Per. 1

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  5. I was surprised when she had to take the drug test and she went to extreme measure to get it out of her body. She drank water constantly and also tried a herb which she thought would take it out her body.
    But when she came and gave the urine for the test they didn’t test for the drug.


    -kc
    -Per 1

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  6. One thing I found interesting in the last section of this book was the description of the orientation Barbara went through to receive a job at Wal-Mart. “For sheer grandeur, scale, and intimidation value, I doubt if any corporate orientation exceeds that of Wal-Mart. I have been told that the process will take eight hours, which will include two fifteen-minute lunch breaks and one half hour break for a meal…” (p. 122). This really proved to me that Ehrenreich was devoted to her book and revealing the truth about low wage Americans. She was willing to sit through eight hours of Wal-Mart orientation just to uncover what poor paying jobs were like. She could have easily forgotten about Wal-Mart and taken another job elsewhere, but she was determined and dedicated to her work.

    -Kelly Smith Period 1

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  7. The portion in this section of Nickel and Dimed that impacted me the most was how difficult it was for Barbara to find decent housing in Minneapolis. The vacancy rate was extremely low, and it was nearly impossible to find a hotel offering weekly or monthly rent. When she does find a motel, it is in very poor condition, and Barbara fears for her life with such low security. For example, there were no bolts on doors, no screens on windows, and Barbara even hides her laptop in the trunk of car. However, even living in this low-income housing, she could not even afford kitchen utensils; therefore she cannot make any food on her own. She must rely on fast food, and eats at one of these chain restaurants multiple times a day, which would most likely diminish her health after an extended period of time.
    Tyler-Period 1

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  8. I feel like this section really shows that low wage workers get so consumed into their job that they barely have time to do anything else. It also shows how attached you get when you work with someone and see them often, how Melissa and Barbara got to be really close. This section also shows that working adds a tremendous amount of stress to your daily lifestyle and in return you sometimes take your stress out or express your anger on someone else or in a way that you didn’t want to. For example, “this is not me, at least not any version of me I’d like to spend much time with, just as my tiny coworker is probably not usually a bitch.”(168) This quote was said by Barbara showing how constantly working and having other things always on her mind make her stressed out and show a side of her she doesn’t necessarily want to show. I find it interesting how your environment and the people you work with can sometimes affect you so much.

    aisha-period1

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  9. In the last section of Nickel and Dimed, Barbara is working at a Wal-Mart. On page 175, Barbara reflects on what she was told in orientation: “In orientation, we learned that the store’s success depends entirely on us, the associates; in fact, our bright blue vests bear the statement ‘At Wal-Mart, our people make the difference.’ Underneath those vests, though, there are real-life charity cases, maybe even shelter dwellers.” I find this statement to sum up the irony of what is shown throughout the whole book. Not just at Wal-Mart, but at every single job she worked, the success of the company depended entirely on their employees. So why is it that they are getting paid so little if they have so much value to the company? Why aren’t they getting health care when they need to stay healthy to work? The employees are the ones doing the hard, dirty work; they sweat, the work long hours, they put their own bodies in harm for close to nothing! Without them, the company would not be where it is today.
    Nina, period 1

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  10. While reading the section Selling in Minnesota I was shocked to see the horrible conditions and the lack of trust that the members at Wal-Mart were faced with. I believe that most of the people working there were not appreciated for all that they were really capable of, (low wages and bad heath insurance), I also feel that there was no need for the in-depth screenings and drug tests that would demean and discourage the workers. “They talk about having spirit...but they don't give us any reason to have spirit”(184). This quote represents the dilemma that most businesses face when hiring new workers, they would “rather just keep hiring new people than treating the old one decently”(184).
    Jennifer L. Period.1

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  11. I didn't like the ending of "Selling in Minnesota" because I thought it would have been more interesting to read if Barb tried to go on strike like the people she sees on the tv. When referring to the people she sees on the televison she says, "Here! Us! We could do that too!"(190). But she copuldnt afford to work at walmart any longer
    John A- per 1

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  12. Tyler,

    When reading this part of the book I had also noticed how eating fast food, multiple times a day, could severely impact or even diminish her health. The food is unhealthy and isn’t giving her the proper energy that she needs to work, which could lead to her not doing her best at work.

    -Karlie period 1

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  13. Karlie: When you mentioned your quote and how she began to get help from Melissa, it reminded me of the quote right after it. I had found this quote to exemplify how she had changed throughout the project. “Now /I'm/ embarrassed...” (p. 163). These couple of phrases really show how Barbara grew throughout the experiment. She began in Key West as a former journalist who wasn't used to living with money, even putting an extra stash aside for if she really needed it. Then, as she moves on and continues with her project, her readers begin to see a change. Not only that, but she begins to see a change in herself. Barbara begins getting used to living on limited funds, and she doesn't tend to think of her extra money anymore. Her coworkers, or at least Melissa, are helping her, now, rather than her helping them. Personally, I see a big change from her big city journalist self to her new and improved self. I see that her eyes have been opened to what it's really like to be a worker, rather than a consumer. Honestly, when the book began, I thought I would be annoyed by her most of the time, and then she began to see through the eyes of another. It was a bit refreshing to see that someone could be that attached to their project and have such a strong change come about.

    Brianna D. Per. 1

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  14. The third section of Nickel and Dimed proved to be a worthy closing to Barbara’s experience as a low-wage worker. In Minnesota, the author fights adamantly in order to find herself a decent housing establishment, as well as finding a suitable job that was unlike the others that she had done prior to this section. Within Wal-Mart, Barbara found herself poised against the shoppers that destroyed the order of merchandise, and even began a sort of inner rebellion against her employer company. I found it quite interesting to see the author grow belligerent against the system because I felt that she truly began to show deep resentment towards the treatment of employees of low-wage occupations; as a result, Barbara wishes to stand up for these workers and rebel in order to advocate the need for better treatment for the hard working soldiers of the low-wage jobs. At the very end of Barbara’s last day at Wal-Mart, she was able to voice her opinions with another worker in the break room, both women in the same spirits about the terrible conditions of their work. Barbara comments in her last line, reflecting that, “I still think we could have done something, she and I, if I could have afforded to work at Wal-Mart a little longer.” (191) I felt that this quote correctly portrayed just how determined Barbara was to continue this small rebellion within her by branching out to others that felt the same pains as she did. I actually forgot for a moment that Barbara was not really a low-wage worker, but her disguise felt like it was the true her at that moment; she grew so close with the life of these workers that she began to think as one of them. I felt that this section solidified Barbara’s understanding of the lives of this people.

    Zhanneta - Period 1

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  15. To Kelly Loftis- I thought the same way when I was reading Barbara’s experiences at Wal-Mart. There are so many factors that can influence someone’s mood each day. It can be because of family problems, not being able to pay the bills, or just how well he/she’s day is going so far. If I were in the same position, my emotions might switch from being kind to irritable as well. I definitely agree with your response.

    -Kelly D. Per. 1

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  16. Brianna D.

    I understand where you’re coming from. I would never let a complete stranger take care of my pets because of there is a lack of trust. My pets mean a lot to me and I wouldn’t want them to be neglected. Also you have to take into account that this person you don’t know is in your house and can invade your privacy. Houses are filled with valuables and sentimental objects that you wouldn’t want broken to stolen. I liked how you mentioned that, “someone should be generous with all of their heart, not just partial caring.” I agree with that statement too.

    -Kelly Loftis Period 1

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  17. “Yes, I know that any day now I’m going to return to variety and drama of my real Barbara Ehrenreich life….it’s nice to know, but it isn’t much help from moment to moment. What you don’t necessarily realize when you start selling your time by the hour is that what you’re actually selling is your life (187)”. Even though Barbara knows that the journey she has started is going to end very soon. But she also understands that she is the one who can give up right on the spot if she wants to but what about those thousands and thousands of people who is living the low wage life in real, she is worried about them. It is impossible for them to give up. The owners or the rich people’s think their time is very valuable but what about the low wage poor people’s time, time they spend on working, time they are selling from their life?? -Shila Per 1

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  18. @Kelly d
    I’m pretty sure the public IS aware of how Wal-Mart treats their workers. I agree that people should take a stand and fight for their rights but honestly, I think, at that point people don’t really care what benefits they are getting and are not getting, they are just grateful for the job they are getting. I don’t think that people will take a stand and fight because Wal-Mart workers are pretty much; really easily replaceable because so many people are in need of a job, maybe that’s why they don’t rebel. Also maybe it’s because workers are comfortable in the position they are working in and they don’t want change. You’ve made some good points and I agree with some of them but I just think that workers don’t really care for what benefits they are receiving beforehand, they are just happy they are getting a job in this tough economy and I am sure the public is aware of how Wal-Mart treats their workers.
    aisha-period1

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  19. I thought it was interesting how Barbara grew angrier as time moved on at Wal-Mart. When she got into the habit of organizing clothing racks, she grew protective of them; when people destroyed her hard work, she started to get aggravated. She mentions, “Once I stand and watch helplessly while some rug rat pulls everything he can reach off the racks, and the thought that abortion is wasted on the unborn must show on my face, because his mother finally tells him to stop.” (165) Barbara’s experience at Wal-Mart hardened her into what she never wanted to be: an angry employee. She finds that the longer she spends there, the more she gets sick with the whole experience and wishes to leave. By the end of the book, she is well aware that she is just a number in a large corporation, and that her employers couldn’t care less about her and her coworkers.

    Alessandra M., Per. 4

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  20. Selling in Minnesota really hit home on how difficult it is to be a low wage worker. In one section a co-worker of Barbara is debating on a purchase of a $7 dollar clearance polo shirt. Barbara realizes that even though it is the required uniform for Wal-Mart employees “At $7 an hour, a $7 shirt is just not going to make it to my shopping list” (159). For someone making above minimum wage, dropping seven dollars on a t-shirt for work would be a necessity. However, Barbara doesn’t have the luxury of any extra money for expenses. She is not only living paycheck to paycheck but on hour’s pay to hour’s pay. It’s easy to forget how hard it would be to live without any cushion in our daily budgets.

    -Steve P. Period 1

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  21. "So I'm a victum not of poverty but of prosperity. The rich and the poor, who are generally thought to live in a state of harmonious interdependence-the one providing the cheap labor, the other providing low wage jobs- can no longer coexist"(172). This quote shows a great connection to The Grapes of Wrath. There is no good balence between the rich and the poor because the poor no longer gain anything. The gain used to be considered a job, but with such low wages they basically just do labor for the rich with little in return. Similar to The Grapes of Wrath, land owners wreak all the benefits by getting lots of workers and paying them close to nothing.
    Chrissy Beaulac period 4

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  22. ^^Daniel Borrus period 4

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  23. One thing about the thirds part of the book that I connected with was when Barbara talked about how when she worked, her entire person changed into a grumpy lesser version of herself. In the text she describes this change by saying, “This is not me, at least not any version of me I’d like to spend much time with, just as my tiny coworker is probably not usually a bitch.”(168) Under the stress of the tough work environment every changes for worse and you can’t really help it.

    Daniel Borrus period 4

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  24. “…people who depend on the generosity of others for their lodging always have something untoward to put up with…”(123) What this quote means to me is, that when you look to someone else too much you won’t like how the results end up. And if you depend on someone else to keep you happy, you will not be looking forward to your life with that person in the future.

    Julia Annicelli, Period 4

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  25. Kelly Smith-
    I agree with your idea that Barabara was dedicated to what she was doing throughout section three. In fact, in her work, she forgot about her real life, and completely took on this low wage lifestyle. She showed this by working extremely hard at every job she worked. A quote from section one shows this, “As in most endeavors I have encountered in my life, ‘doing it better than anyone’, is not a reasonable goal. Still, when I wake up at 4 am in my own cold sweat, I am not thinking about the writing deadlines I’m neglecting; I’m thinking of the table where I screwed up the order…” (18).
    Ashley Murphy Period 4

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  26. While working in Wal-Mart, Barbara realized something about the significance of her tedious job and she explains this with the following quote: “So the great thing about shopping, of most of these women, is that here they get to behave like brats… and it wouldn’t be any fun- would it? – unless the clothes were all reasonably orderly to begin with, which is where I come in, constantly re-creating the orderliness for the customers to maliciously destroy. It’s appalling, but it’s in their nature: only pristine and virginal displays truly excite them” (177). I chuckled when I read this because I realized that I do what she is describing. Barbara comes to recognize that her job of organizing and putting away clothes is much more than what it seems. She is providing an escape to women everywhere whose job it is to pick up after their families. There are only so many places where mothers can be the children. Also, it is interesting to know that employees thrive not only on the satisfaction of a sale, but to serve shoppers who serve everyone else in their own life by giving them the carefree experience they seek.

    Kaity Per. 4

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  27. Zhanneta,

    I agree with you. I think that if she stuck around longer, she could have started a great revolution and changed the lives of many future employees of Wal-Mart. It isn’t fair that they don’t get benefits that every worker should be entitled to. Her experience at Wal-Mart hopefully taught her that working in the middle-class isn’t easy, and it’s even harder when the corporation supports its customers more than its employees. It is ridiculous to me that they are treated poorly, but I’m definitely not surprised. Large employers like Wal-Mart don’t care about their employees because any of them could easily be replaced.

    Alessandra M., Per. 4

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  28. In the section “Selling in Minnesota” a quote I found that was attention-grabbing was when Barbara said, “Something is wrong, very wrong. When a single person, who in addition possesses a working car, can barely support herself by the sweat of her brow. You don’t need a degree in economics to see that wages are too low and rents too high. The problem of rents is easy for a noneconomist, even a sparsely educated low-wage worker, to grasp: it’s the market, stupid. When the rich and poor compete for housing on the open market, the poor don’t stand a chance.” (199) This quote sums up the issues that occur in our economic system. Poor people can hardly take care of themselves never mind moving up in the system. The poor people don’t stand a chance against the wealthier people. Luckily Barbara got to end her adventure soon after this because it was experimental but this is people’s actual lives. Many people would never even think of this because a good amount of individuals and families are secure with their money and housing but this book displays the many complications that low-wage people go through every day.

    Kayleen K-Per. 4

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  29. To John A
    I agree with your view on the ending. I thought Barbara would really step up and try to enact change after all she went through however, she never tried to get all of her co-workers to strike on the terrible conditions.

    Daniel B period 4

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  30. A part of “Selling in Minnesota” which I found intriguing was when she pointed out the new addition to Wendy’s menu. As Barbara said, “This summer, Wendy’s where I often buy lunch, has introduced the verb biggiesize…and something like biggiesizing seems to have happened to the female guest population,”(166). I found this interesting because one would think that a female would always worry about her figure no matter her social class. However, this is not true for the lower class. If a woman, or any person for that matter, can get more food for a little less then why wouldn’t they. That food could be a big dinner that they have been waiting for or lunch for the next day. To be completely honest, some of those women may not even know when their next meals will be because of financial reasons so they fill up as much as they can when they have the chance.

    -Pompeo, Per. 4

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  31. During Barbra’s orientation for Wal-Mart she watches a video dealing with labor unions, and you can tell that it is completely bios. She mentions that her co-workers who are watching this video with her are probably giving in the powers of the tape because they are only teenagers. By the end she describes the union leaders as “fiends” and “extortionists” to show how badly the union organizers are being represented by the store. You almost get the feel that the new employees are being brainwashed into thinking this certain way. This really shows how little respect Wal-Mart has for its employees and also how scared they are that their employees will go and join these unions. The corporation is trying to get the employees first before any union rep. can. And that’s really why all the new employees have to sit through these videos.
    Marisa p.4

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  32. I think it is interesting what Alessandra said. Her work environment at wal-mart changes her personality dramatically. She becomes more close minded and only expresses her anger and envy.It shows how a high stress life and a bad job can change a person as much on the inside as it can on the outside.
    Chrissy B. period 4

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  33. At the end of the novel the quote that really stood out to me was “Someday, of course –and I will make no predictions to exactly when-they are bound to tire of getting so little in return and to demand to be paid what they’re worth.” This stood out to me because I completely agree with this statement, this is because all these workers are working their hardest so that they could have a place to live in and food to feed their families, and yet they receive so little. I think that all of these workers really should demand a better pay, better working conditions and better hours, because it is not fair to them that they have to work long days where they become tired, sick or injured and still get a very small pay.

    Kathryn period 4

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  34. This quote really caught my eye when I was reading. “Something is wrong. Very wrong, when a single person in good health, a person who in addition possesses a working car, can barely support herself by the sweat of her brow.” P.199. This quote really caught my attention for many reasons. Barbara was working at Wal-Mart at the time and the wages were not cutting it for her to support herself. It was very hard to life your life during this time because the wages were too low and the rents were too high. In the text Barbara also explains that she made a mistake and she should have taken the better paying job rather than the Wal-Mart job. In the text it says, “I should have moved into the dormitory I finally found (although at $19 a night, even a dorm bed would have been a luxury on Wal-Mart wages.)” p.198.
    This explains that she made mistakes that could have changed her life by having somewhere descent to live and being able to afford it with the wages she is getting by working at Wal-Mart.

    Erica Per. 4

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  35. @Aisha
    I agree that Wal-Mart employees are just grateful to have a job in such difficult economic times. They are in no position to argue for better wages, benefits, or conditions because as you pointed out they are easily replaceable. However I do not fully agree that the public is aware to the extent that Wal-Mart treats its workers. I personally imagined that workers at Wal-Mart got one or two breaks but for the most part were treated fairly enough for their wage. However I now realize that they can be robbed of hours, forbidden from leaving during their breaks, and just generally treated unfairly as the corporation tries to squeeze as much money out of them as possible. I believe that the public, having not read this book, is unaware of these injustices because it is not shown on the surface of the Wal-Mart experience.
    -Steve P. Per 4.

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  36. After reading this section I realized how badly these people need the $7 dollars they make a day or less just so that they can make it through the day or the week. A lot of these people also need to support families as well so it gets really difficult for living with their low wage income. “A picketer with a little boy tells the camera, ‘This is my son, I’m doing this for my son,’ Senator Paul Wellstone is standing there too. He shakes the boy’s hand, and says, ‘You should be proud of your father,”’ (190). He is on strike so that he can provide more for his son and this shows you how badly these people need the money for the amount of work they put in.
    Patrick-period 4

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  37. After reading the third part of the story, “Selling in Minnesota,” I started to realize that this lifestyle that Barbara tells a tale about is in fact a quite depressing one. First of all, she is, as a result of her experiment, a true middle class citizen. I always thought that middle class citizens had it a little better off than she does. But, Barbara is barely getting by. She is in a financial stalemate, and the only reason why she isn’t losing money is because her quality of life is poor: poor housing, poor nutrition, and poor medical assistance. After holding a job at Wal-Mart for quite some time, she realizes that “…you don’t necessarily realize when you start selling your time by the hour is that what you’re actually selling is your life” (187). After reading this quote, I immediately felt a sensation of depression, and that these people aren’t living to work, but are working to live. Not only is she working all day for minimum wage, she is living of McDonalds for food, and pain killers for her medical problems. Not being able to eat proper food, or get proper medical attention because of a financial situation does not seem like a very good lifestyle. This is a real problem in the world, and many of us don’t even see it.
    Alex period 4

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  38. Jennifer-

    I agree with you completely. The way Wal-Mart treats their employees is horrid. They don’t appreciate their customers for what they are worth. They only see them as easily replaceable. And their trust in the is awful too. There is absolutely no need to do all those screenings.

    Julia, Period 4

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  39. To Pompeo
    I agree with what you are saying on that particular quote. Many women do worry about their figure but when you have no choice besides the cheapest, unhealthiest food you can purchase you will have to eat it. They cherish the meals they can actually afford because, like you said, they won’t know when the next time they eat will be. Besides feeding themselves they have a lot of other expenses so I feel like that is the last thing they worry about.
    Kayleen p.4

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  40. @Kaity
    I liked that part of the section because it really did make a lot of sense, and Barbra put it in a really interesting way. I think it also made her feel a little better about her work knowing that she was also taking care of people while she was doing it.
    marisa p.4

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  41. Dear Kayleen,
    I completely agree with what you said. In addition with what you said, I would also like to point out how the rich do not see how hard it is for the poor because they never had a problem with rent and grocery money. The rich go around buying that “perfect/dream” house, whereas the poor can barely find a place to live. Overall, great choice in quote!
    -Pompeo, per.4

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  42. In this section, what stood out to me was the issue of unpaid overtime. First, at the Menard’s hardware store, the employer tells Barbara that she would get paid $10 for an 11 hour shift each day. In a work week, that exceeds the 40 hour week in which if that is the case, overtime must be paid. However, the employers take advantage of their workers and allow themselves to illegally work them over the limit. After I read this, I thought, “Huh, if a large hardware store like that could get away with mistreatment of their workers, I wonder how many other places do that? One place in the whole country multiplied by what?” Soon enough, later in the section I find that there have already been lawsuits against Walmart for unpaid overtime. Their workers, as they probably are aware, do not have much of a choice for what jobs to take. It is already humiliating enough that they are living in poverty so they will do anything to make a living. To not pay these workers overtime is to lessen the value of their human dignities. Just because these people have limited options does not mean they are wholly dependent on their job (or more so their employers).

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  43. ^Comment by Sidney Per. 1

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  44. @Zhanneta: I agree that this section solidifies Barbara’s understanding of the lives of the low-wage class. She seemed somewhat more open to the lifestyle, allowing herself to work at Walmart, sleep in a crammed room with no refrigeration, and ask for food assistance (she went through the process of calling a series of numbers before coming to find help). I thought her actions in this section really expressed Barbara’s growth on the topic of low-wage workers and as she lets herself become immersed in this lifestyle, more and more do the experiences seem real. The lingering rebellion against her employers by the end of the section validates that and Barbara’s original intentions in investigating as an undercover journalist which makes for a fine closing.

    Sidney/Period 1

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  45. “Most of the people I pick up after are mothers themselves, meaning that what I do at work is what they do at home-pick up the toys and the clothes and the spills…here they get to behave like brats, ignoring the bawling babies in their carts, tossing things around for someone else to pick up,” (pg.177). I found this quote interesting because I had never thought about shopping in this way. However, now that Barbra brought it up, I think it’s very relatable to many people. I know that I have done this many times; placing an object I realized I didn’t want down in the wrong place thinking it doesn’t matter, the employees will pick it up. After reading this I’ve definitely gained a new prospective and appreciation for the workers in stores like Wal-mart.

    emily mccoll p.4

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  46. To Pompeo:
    I totally agree with what you are saying. I always thought every woman cared about their figure, as well. But, in this case they are barely getting by and they will eat whatever they can just to get some sort of food in them. Although nutrition is a very important thing to most individuals, these women do not have the money to even think about buying/eating healthy foods because they couldn’t afford it. It is a sad idea because health is one of the most important things in life. Without proper health, one can’t do anything to his or her full potential. And even if they wanted to turn their lives around, and eat healthy, live in better homes, and work at a better job, the odds would be against them due to their poor health. It’s a vicious cycle, in which they can’t escape.
    Alex p. 4

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  47. Kathryn
    I agree with this statement as well. These people are putting in all of their time to work at these jobs and they get very little in return. I agree when you say that they should demand to get a better pay and better place to live in because they deserve it because they work as hard as they can and in return they get low wages. These wages barely get them through life. Most of these people have nowhere to live and nothing to eat. When they get money they usually use it on gas and rent so most of them are pretty much at starvation.
    Erica per. 4

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  48. In the text I found it highly interesting that when questioned about the matter of being underpaid in comparison to others by Barbara, Colleen, a fellow coworker, stated “I don’t mind, really, because I guess I’m a simple person, and I don’t want what they have. I mean, it’s nothing to me” (119). Prior to her undercover investigation as a low class worker Barbara, coming from the upper middle class, was under the impression that everyone in the lower class envied the rich. To her, these people wanted to be just like those of the high class, yet did not have to means to do so. She seemed to be under the impression that there was resentment in the eyes of the poorer who were jealous of the rich. However, after talking to Colleen, she realized that not all low wage workers seek extreme wealth. All they want is to get by and be happy and do not have these hidden feelings of resentment in the slightest. The reason for which this was so interesting to me was due to the fact that I also shared this common misconception with Barbara prior to reading this book.
    Jessica T Period 4

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  49. To John A (Period 1)-
    I was not entirely happy with the ending of “Selling in Minnesota as well. I agree with your thought that she should have attempted to organize the workers into a strike like she contemplates while saying “Raise the questions! Plant the seeds!” (182). However, the fact that she left her job at Wal-Mart under the circumstances that she could no longer afford it shocked me. This is because she is not even a real low wage worker, she has money set aside for financial help if need be. Yet, if she cannot even do it how are the people who have to live like that for years on end supposed to do it? Now, I find myself thinking that maybe the reason for which other workers never went on strike was because life is too difficult already without the added stress. They just want to get by.
    Jessica T Period 4

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  50. To Patrick,
    I agree with what you said, this part in the book also stood out to me. In addition to what you said, I thought it was great that someone was finally sticking up for themselves and fighting for what they deserved. I believe that everyone should fight for what they deserve because no one should be struggling to feed and house their families if they are working their hardest.

    Kathryn. Period 4

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  51. To John A,
    I didn’t like the ending either. It was anti-climactic. However, I think it’s realistic. I wondered why more people don’t strike or join a union instead of leaving their job. Then I realized how desperate these people are. There’s no way they’re going to get involved in a situation that could 1) get them in trouble and possibly jailed and 2) most likely make them loose their job which is basically the only thing keeping them alive. All they can afford to do is deal with the situation. But, if everyone continues this way, when is change ever actually going to occur?
    Kaity Per. 4

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  52. In Section III of Nickel and Dimed, “Selling in Minnesota”, there is an evident and profound character change that Barbara Ehrenreich displays. Prior to working at Wal-Mart, Barbara puts a half-hearted effort into understanding her coworkers and the difficulties they experience in their day to day lives. She may report on their hardships, but she does not truly connect with the other workers. It is reasonable to say that she believes she is not one of these people, and even goes to the extent of describing herself as “overqualified” for low wage work. (17) The reader learns at the beginning of the novel that Barbara is conducting this experiment to expose the exploitation of big business on the working class and to educate the population on how the “other half lives”. Coming from a qualified and prioritized position as a journalist, Barbara views herself as higher of an individual than the others. She repeatedly checks into her savings to save her own skin, and does not go to full extent of homelessness and starvation. She may be fulfilling her goal of first handedly experiencing low wage work, but she does not want to see change within the workplace. While at Wal-Mart, Barb demonstrates a change in mentality and no longer wishes to subordinate herself to the abusive power of corporations. Her frustration leads her to plead the “need of a union,” within an associate meeting at Wal-Mart when she becomes tired of reduced wages, unpaid overtime, and high rates of health insurance. (182) This rebellion against the Wal-Mart organization truly stands out to me, Barbara is not a full time employee of the corporation nor is she going to continue with this job for much longer. For her to criticize the company in such a manner displays her disgust with exploitation and misery of the workers including her. She is trying to improve the lives of others with her protest; she raises discussion at her own risk for the betterment of others. Pleading for a union is a detested action at any level of work, and to do so shows that she has mentally changed her perspective on how she views the poor. There is a certain degree of appreciation for these people now in the eyes of Barbara Ehrenreich and a driving force behind her goal of educating others about the adversity low wage workers face.

    - Alexander Borkowski Period 1

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  53. To John,

    I agree with you that the end of the book wasn't that great. I thought it was kind of ridiculous that she kept talking about going on strike and then she never followed through and did it. But the reason why she probably didn't strike was that she couldn't afford to be striking and still get through everyday without any money. You never know how long the strike will last so I think it's best that she didn't strike.
    Patrick- period 4

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  54. @Sidney

    I completely agree on your point about the lack of paid overtime. It is awfully unfortunate to know that companies can stoop so low as to underpay their workers while asking for such outrageous hours of work. These people, who struggle so adamantly in order to survive, are only meat bags that get work done for the heads of the corporations. You have it absolutely right when you say that the dignities are stolen from the low-wage workers in these conditions. Instead of receiving an applaud for their unbreakable will and determination towards supporting themselves and families, the workers are taken advantage of and are simply humiliated.

    Zhanneta, Period 1

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  55. “What you don't necessarily realize when you start selling your time by the hour is that what you're actually selling is your life” (187). This quote is significant because it relates to the whole book. These people working these jobs are making close to $6.00-$7.00 an hour. On that wage, after eight hours of work, you would only be making $48 to $56 dollars a day. For some upper class and upper middle class Americans, an hourly wage can be up to $60 an hour. Obviously the money that is being made by these low wage workers, is not enough to support their families, or even themselves. Therefore, some of them find themselves working seven days a week, such as Barbara had to in the second section of the book. Therefore, in a way, these people are selling their lives.

    Ashley Murphy, Period 4

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  56. Before when I went shopping it never occurred to me that when you picked up cloths to try on and ended up taking less than half of the lode that the people working with have to take so much time trying to put them back to their real locations."At first a cart takes me an average of forty-five minutes and there may still be three or four mystery items left at the bottom." so knowing this I wounder if my shopping stay is going to change and if Barbara in the future will shop with this in mind.
    sandrine period 4

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  57. “What I have to face is that “Barb:, the name on my id tag, is not exactly the same person as Barbara. ”Barb” is what I was called as a child, and still am by my siblings, and I sense that at some level I am regressing. Take away the career and the high education, and maybe what you are left with is the original “Barb”, the one who might ended up working at Wal-Mart for real if her father hadn’t manage to climb out of the mines. So it’s interesting, and more than a little disturbing, to see how Barb turned out-that she’s meaner and slyer than I am, more cherishing of grudges, and not quite as smart as I’d hoped” The author describes herself as feeling if a fifty year old woman, when working a lower class job, can be treated almost as if her social status has been lowered. We are taught to respect our elders, but how much do we actually respect them. For example if you see a sixty year old established business man, how your judgments towards him are different compared to a sixty year old janitor. Well at face value, the business man is obviously has a much higher social status, but just how much do you know about the two. For example, the author says if it wasn’t for her father’s push for higher education, she could have simply been the Barb working at Wal-Mart. You can say that the business man or in this case “Barbara” was more successful, but just how successful do they feel about themselves. In my quote the author states, that “Barb” isn’t as smart as she hopes, but all different types of people can all relate to her, because when you’re a kid and envision yourself in the future, well you don’t always quite turn out to be the type of person you envisioned as little kid, sometimes you turn out to be the exact opposite, there is no reason how, or no reason why, but sometimes it’s done because you wanted to be a successful business man, but the little kid inside of you always wanted to be a vet. But what’s the difference between the two? The answer, salary.

    Edgar Ortiz Period 1

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  58. Response to Jennifer L- I also found it interesting how, even though it is so hard to trust some people, other individuals can place a vast amount of trust in another after only working with them for a few weeks. Barbara and Melissa are a prime example of this. They both have very little to live on, and rely on eachother to get through the day. Melissa was constantly upbeat, and it seemed as if she was happy to be alive. Whereas other workers are always miserable, and complain about the simplest things.
    Tyler-Period 1

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  59. John A (period 1),
    I agree with you on the ending of the story; I was a little disappointed that Barbara didn't help her co-workers organize a strike. It would have been a nice wrap up for her to give back all that she could after experiencing their way of life. However, I understand why she didn't stay longer than she did. She put a lot into this project and I believe she did it justice by raising awareness with this book.

    Nina, period 1

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  60. Hi Brianna D: I think you made an important point by pointing out that Barbara at the begging was experiencing how to live as a low wage work rather then live it her self until she is selling in Minnesota. During her stay in Minnesota no matter the problem she solute it with out think as her old self but as a person that had to work to live. This is the point were we see her starting to think as one of the people she has been pretending to be in section 1 and 2 of the book."Take away the career and the higher education, and maybe what you're left with is this original Barb, the one who might have ended up working at Wal-Mart for real if her father hadn't managed to climb out of the mines." This show how much she has changed because now she could identifier her educated self from her uneducated self.
    sandrine period 4

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  61. Response to Ashley,
    After reading what you wrote, it made me think more about people selling their lives to their work. Many people in the upper-class society work 7 to 8 hours a day. However, they make so much money an hour that they slowly begin to decrease their work hours because they realize that they have enough money to survive. But for the people in this novel, they beg for more hours and for a higher wage. In my perspective, the way that all this works is not fair. People with low wage jobs work harder than people with everyday, good paying jobs. They should be treated more fairly and get better pay. This was a very good quote in the book and an important piece readers need to understand.

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  62. To Kathryn,
    I completely agree with that response. Also, I remembered that quote and reading it again also made me think of another idea Barbra had brought up. Not only do they deserve a higher pay for illnesses and other essentials, but they deserve it for their mental well being as well. The author stated that after a while of low wage work, you begin to actually feel worth what you are being paid.
    emily p.4

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  63. To Kelly Loftis,

    I agree with points you have made. I found it very interesting, how she started getting selfish. I think its human nature to put ourselves first than others and it’s ok to do so. And if anyone of us were in her place we would also have done the same because we want what we don’t have.
    -Shila

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  64. To Erica Per 4,
    I found your though were very interesting and i agree with them.I wanted to say something about the fact that, "Barbara admitted that she has done a mistake". I understand that she realized it afterwards that the job she had chosen was not the best for her.It doesn't really affect her life much because it was just a small project for her. But I feel really bad toward the "real low-wage worker" who had done those mistakes but weren't able to correct it.
    -Shila Per 1

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