Nickel and Dimed Chapter 2 Flashcards
Why did Barbara choose maine?
its whiteness
What does Barbara mean by whiteness?
she means white people
What did Barbara notice about the Maine work force?
it often noted being fun and casual. There were thousands of ads advertising jobs for mothers and job fairs.
What does she compare what she is doing to?
the witness protection program
What does this quote say. “Still, I reason, this sudden removal to an unknown state is not all that different from the kinds of dislocations that routinely segment the lives of the truly poor.” (Page 52)
This quote shows how her experiment becomes realistic as she moves from place to place looking for jobs.
What does she begin to do while in the hotel room in Maine?
she begins to understand the stuff that she has with her.
What does this quote say. “I have a tote bag stuffed with books which will, along with the hiking boots I have brought for weekends, turn out to be the most useless items in my inventory.” Page 53
This shows that she has begun to really find out what her real necessities are for living at minimum wage.
What type of hotel is the motel 6 she is staying at?
it is much homier than many would believe.
What is a benefit of eating food with money you have tirelessly worked for?
it tastes much better.
What does this quote show. “Educated, Middle Class professionals never go careening half-cocked into the future, vulnerable to any surprise that might leap out at them.” 54
she is saying that the middle class are the ones who tend to not live adventurous lives filled with surprises. They like to have everything planned so they know the outcome
What does the newspaper say about apartments?
there are none
What do hotel prices tend to do during tourist season?
rise
What is she able to find?
a shared apartment in a motel basement that goes for 67 dollars a week
What does Earl say about her apartment mate?
that she is a character but she is clean
What does this quote show? “Well, there is a windowlike structure near the ceiling, but it offers a view of only compact dirt, such as one might normally see when looking up from the grave.”56
this shows that the living conditions that some poor are bound to often feel like death to the middle class citizen.
What does she use as her “office”?
a payphone
What does the man who shows her around the next apartment complex assure her?
he assures her there will be no trouble because he is an ex-cop, and that he keeps the number of kids to a minimum.
What is wrong with that apartment complex?q
it is too much money
What is wrong with the other places she visits?
they are not very private
what is the final one that she likes?
Blue Haven motel that has an alpine feel to it.
What does the Motel 6 do when they need more moeny from her?
they change the lock
What type of work is she looking for in Maine?
she is looking for cleaning jobs, warehouse work, general helping jobs.
What is her interview like at the tortilla factory?
she meets with a very bored supervisor who does not care.
What type of testing is favorasble among industries?
personality testing
What is the interview focus on in Wal-mart?
various weed references
What does this quote show about Barbara’s viewpoint of interview tests? “The real function of these tests, I decide, is to convey information not to the employer but to the employee, and the information being conveyed is always: You will have no secrets from us … we want your innermost self.” Page 59
This quote shows her belief that these tests are to inform the employee about the type of work environment they will be. They stress that they want the whole individual as an employee and not just the physical aspects.
What does Barbara realise about low wage jobs?
she realizes that low wage workers are pushed to find more than one job.
What two jobs are the first to call her?
the first two jobs are help at a nursing home, and The Maids cleaning service that is the best paying one in town.
What will Barbara do for work in Maine?
she will be a maid, then she will go to a better paying job, and then she will work at the nursing home on weekends
What is described to her by her boss in the nursery?
she will be a nutrition assistant who helps feed the residents
What does her nursery boss say about her rights? who does she key in on?
she says that she has a right to stand up to sexual harassment. Especially by robert, the owner’s son.
How does Barbara treat this job?
she treats it as though it is a restaraunt
why is there little stress in this job?
the old people do not have good memories anyway.
What is the hardest part of being a nurse?
the hardest part is the cleaning at the end of meals
What does Barbara tell pete about being married?
she tells him she is not married or taken at all because she wants an ally in him
What does Pete begin to reveal about coworkers?
he shows Barbara that all of the coworkers have something to hide, and to stay away from them at certain times.