"Nickel and Dimed"

Paper Summary:

This paper identifies and discusses some of the sociological themes and ideas present in Barbara Ehrenreich's book, "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America." It describes the nation's attitude, including that of Ehrenreich, towards the working class and considers how they are treated and viewed by society. The paper looks at class distinction, education, racism, ethnicity and religion. It then explores the discrimination that thousands of Americans have to face each day.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Looking At How the Other Half Live
The True Reality Of the American Dream
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Why does it have to take a relatively wealthy woman, who is middle-classed, well-educated, and financially cushioned, to expose the true experiences of the "working poor"? The reasons, when reading Barbara's book are, unfortunately, all too clear. "Nickel and Dimed", is an emotionally charged, authentic, and witty portrayal of Barbara's social experiment to discover the truth concerning the daily lives of almost a third of Americans who live on poor wages, in bad housing, and who face society's demeaning attitudes towards them and their families. Beginning with middle-age reluctance, Ehrenreich (explaining that she does, after all, have a degree in biology), braces herself, puts her best foot forward, and sets out to discover the reality - "The only way to find out," she writes, "was to get out there and get my hands dirty" (Barbara Ehrenreich, 2001)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich (New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, 2001); 256 pp

More papers on "Nickel and Dimed":

• Book Review # 120940 : "Nickel and Dimed": The Poor in America"
• Book Review # 114675 : "Nickel and Dimed"
• Book Review # 111247 : "Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickel and Dimed"

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