SOCIOL 3AC Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Working Poor
Document Summary
Sprent 1 month living and working as a member of working poor. Applied for low level, low skill jobs. The point - provide uplifting benefits to america"s poor. Ehrenreich leaves her upper-middle class lifestyle for 1 month to test if its possible to live in the low-wage economy. Chooses florida b/c it"s easier to be homeless since it"s warm. Primary source of info - wants ads. She wanted housekeeping- but had to settle for waitressing/serving at diner chain restaurants. Serving positions pay less per hour because of tips. But tips often have to be pooled with other employees. 517 on food, gas, toiletries, laundry, utilities etc. Some camaraderie between workers (only positive attribute) If reasonably priced, far from work- dictating necessity of a car. Hard to obtain bc of 23621 needed upfront. Point of welfare reform - the humblest of jobs are morally uplifting and psychologically buoying .
