Case Study Ehrenreich's First Day At The Maids

Ehrenreich’s next choice for residency is Maine, primarily due to the ease of merging with the large quantity of other English-speaking Caucasians in the low-wage work force. During a previous visit to the Portland area, she noted that opportunities were plentiful in the world of employment. She begins her stay at a Motel 6 from which she will organize her quest for a job and a stable place to live. Ehrenreich accepts several interviews for prospective housing only to find disappointment. In the moments prior to concluding her search in defeat, she locates a fairly cute cottage that includes basic amenities, a reasonable security deposit, and at a cost much more affordable than the motel.
As similarly done in Kew West, Ehrenreich’s next step is submitting various applications for employment. Hoping for a fresh challenge, she inquires about positions for cleaning offices and homes, warehouse and nursing home work, manufacturing, and a general helper position. Within two days of seeking a job, Ehrenreich is offered and accepts the first two opportunities that are
After a day’s training, she is considered capable of cleaning with the team. She realizes that maid work is tiresome and involves physical, demanding labor. Furthermore, she discovers that the 30 minute lunch break promised in her interview is more like a five minute break. Likewise, the guarantee of leaving work at 3:30 usually results in returning to the office as late as 5:00. Along with these inconveniences comes the fact that many of Ehrenreich’s work associates are poor and either lives with a relative, boyfriend, or other coworker. While desperation would be a logical explanation for the reason behind her coworkers’ choice of employment, she recognizes that the primary benefit is that none of them are