Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel And Dimed: Analysis

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Over the last century, minimum wage jobs have become increasingly less effective in providing sufficient income for a comfortable American life. This, in tandem with the inflating prices of affordable housing has made it very difficult for United States citizens to live complacently. In her book, Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich explores the issue of poverty in America to the conclusion that in order to end these challenges with the lower class, people must limit doing things that would lead individuals to poverty (238).

As a source, Barbara Ehrenreich is credible because of her extensive background in writing and her own personal experiences she provides in the book. She has experience in journalism, and has written a multitude of books …show more content…
Throughout each economic and social experiment in the Key West, Maine and Minnesota, Ehrenreich provides various viewpoints based off the jobs that she found most suitable to her living conditions. While working in the Key West, Ehrenreich displays the difficulties of waitressing for minimum wage while living in a trailer park. A common theme Ehrenreich notices is that her co-workers tend to live in difficult conditions, often living in overcrowded small apartments or paying high prices for a Hotel room (26). This is not just found in the waitressing field, but it seems to be a trend seen throughout Ehrenreich’s jobs. Ehrenreich later stresses the need for policies to be implemented because the impoverished working class endures harsh conditions. This needs to be altered in order to reduce the amount of income inequality in our nation. All in all, America’s working class must be given aid and security which would help the lower class get through their socioeconomic
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