The main argument of the book centers around the fact that minimum wage workers are not paid enough to reach a decent standard of living.
What is the main point of nickel and dimed?
What is the topic? The main idea of Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich demonstrates the complications and the way on how minimum wage workers survived during 1996 in Florida, Maine , and in Minnesota when the welfare reform had an impact on minimum wage.
The purpose of the book was to introduce the reader to the plight of those who work service jobs for long hours, inadequate pay, and no benefits .
What is the significance of the title nickel and dimed?
About the Title
Nickel and Dimed references the American idiom “to nickel and dime.” The phrase “nickel and dimed” refers to small charges that eat away at a paycheck or income, so that the fees take away more of the earner’s income than is fair .
What is the conclusion of nickel and dimed?
Rents are too high and wages too low , Barbara concludes. With the rising numbers of the wealthy, the poor have been forced into more expensive and distant housing—even as the poor often have to work near the rich in service and retail jobs.
Why was nickel and dimed banned?
This year one of the “top ten” books being challenged, according to the American Library Association, is Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America, by Barbara Ehrenreich, with the reasons given as “ drugs, inaccurate, offensive language, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint .”
How long does it take to read Nickel and Dimed?
The average reader will spend 4 hours and 48 minutes reading this book at 250 WPM (words per minute).
What is a nickel and dime?
Definition of nickel-and-dime (Entry 2 of 2) transitive verb. 1 : to impair, weaken, or defeat piecemeal (as through a series of small incursions or excessive attention to minor details) 2 : to treat (a person or situation) by paying excessive attention to small amounts of money often with a detrimental effect.
What is the subject of Nickel and Dimed?
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America is a book written by Barbara Ehrenreich. Written from her perspective as an undercover journalist, it sets out to investigate the impact of the 1996 welfare reform act on the working poor in the United States .
What is the tone of Nickel and Dimed?
Nickel and Dimed could be described as having a biting, almost angry, tone .
What does Ehrenreich argue in Nickel and Dimed?
Ehrenreich tears the mask off of the idea that there is no class system in America, making the argument that the class of minimum wage workers in America are being “nickel and dimed” by the power structure which is preventing them from living a life of comfort.
What is the main topic of Nickel and Dimed On Not Getting By in America?
Nickel and Dimed reveals low-rent America in all its tenacity, anxiety, and surprising generosity―a land of Big Boxes, fast food, and a thousand desperate stratagems for survival. Read it for the smoldering clarity of Ehrenreich’s perspective and for a rare view of how “prosperity” looks from the bottom.
Who wrote Nickel and Dimed?
Picador is marking the tenth anniversary of Barbara Ehrenreich’s modern classic “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America,” in which she chronicled her attempts to make a life on minimum wage in three states, with a special anniversary edition.
Who is joy in nickel and dimed?
Joy is one of the moody managers at Jerry’s and is in her early 30s. She occasionally helps Ehrenreich refine her skills, but when in a bad temper she criticizes the overworked Ehrenreich. Joy is part of the impetus for Ehrenreich’s decision to quit. Linda is the supervisor at Woodcrest Residential Facility.
Who is Roberta in nickel and dimed?
Roberta – Roberta is a “bustling platinum-haired woman of sixty or so” who works in personnel at Wal-Mart . Caroline – Caroline is the aunt of Ehrenreich’s friend. Ehrenreich talks with her about what it is really like to live a low-wage lifestyle.
