Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickel and Dimed"

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickel and Dimed". The paper describes Ehrenreich's experiences in the book as an undercover journalist who went to three American cities and worked as an ordinary American. The paper specifically discusses the inequalities and problems that Ehrenreich exposed in the book; that the daily lives of most Americans consist of driving beat up cars, living from paycheck to paycheck, and being disrespected. The author urges that Ehrenreich's book should be used as an example, and that the wage system in America should be improved.

From the Paper:

"The problem with American culture is its continued clinging to the American Dream. Although few Americans can make that Dream come true, children are taught in school that all Americans can and will succeed if they only work harder. Yet when those children graduate and try working in the real world, they soon find that their low-wage job leads nowhere. Employee benefits are nonexistent because employees are allowed to offer part-time packages to essentially full-time workers. The underlying American political philosophy fears any shift toward social services that might too closely resemble communism."

More papers on Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickel and Dimed":

• Book Review # 120940 : "Nickel and Dimed": The Poor in America"
• Book Review # 133569 : "Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickel and Dimed"
• Analytical Essay # 86650 : "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America"
• Book Review # 114675 : "Nickel and Dimed"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: