Nickel+Dimed Reaction

The book Nickel and Dimed was a refreshing easy read. With consideration to my workload for the semester I appreciated this small favor, however, nothing could have prepared me for the pages ahead. As I conceptualized this paper I was battling my criticisms and trying to keep an open mind. I ended my conceptualization feeling helpless and not knowing where to begin. Where better then the beginning? I was initially thrilled to read the things she was writing about serving in Florida. Not only because I live in Florida, but also because I am a drink and food schlepper myself. At first reading about the problems with customers and endless side work brought a smile to my face, but shortly my smile faded into something of a brooding disposition. Not only was I annoyed reading my trials and tribulations on the page, but also I was attempting to separate myself from the text and put it in a single woman/mom perspective (the assignment is my only reason for attempting to be unbiased which I am generally not very good at). It had never occurred to me that these downfalls of society not only afflicted me, but women in even less of a position beside myself. I find it hard to fully engage the contempt-ridden position these women are in. When dealing with an annoying customer I generally have a hard time letting it roll of. I cannot imagine being forced into such a submissive position because one desperately needs this 2-dollar tip to keep from living in her car.

As she progressed up north to Maine I was pleasantly awaiting something better, as the author was herself. I too believed that the all white New England state would provide a better opportunity for this experiment. The maid work she was applying for seemed slightly more pleasant and less degrading. As she proceeded on with her experiment, I again grew ominous thinking of the looming omen of a feces ridden toilet or pubic hair ridden Jacuzzi she would come in contact with. The degradation suffered by these consistently well below the poverty line women is enough to turn ones stomach. And to have to keep a cheery disposition and never curse on the job created even more of a hostile mindset for myself. She described in this chapter a woman working with her with no front teeth. How terrifying having a job where one relentlessly cleans someone else's belongings and tries to maintain there comfort with a good smelling house, meanwhile this ladies mouth is filthy and foul smelling (I assume, because of the rotten teeth observation of Ehrenreich) with no prospect of health or dental care anywhere in the near future or even probably her whole life.

The co-workers described in the book amazed me. With the exception of a few nameless angry people, for the most part there was an unusual camaraderie of people of