Ehrenreich: Summary And Analysis
The third and final location of Ehrenreich’s experiment is Minnesota. A state considered to be relatively liberal to the welfare poor, Ehrenreich desires to experience the compatibility of income and rent, a few moderate adventures, and a tranquil conclusion. Upon arriving in the Twin Cities area, she rents a vehicle and drives to a friend’s apartment that she will use for a few days free of monetary pay. Her only charge is to care for the friend’s cockatiel, which she agrees to do despite her phobia of birds at close range.
Excited for change in a profession apart from waitressing, nursing homes, or housecleaning, Ehrenreich considers employment in retail or factory work. She begins her pursuit by leaving applications at local Wal-Marts, …show more content…
Ehrenreich goes through the local phone book and the Sunday paper looking for an apartment to rent. Unfortunately, she is only able to leave messages with the agencies listed in the phone book and finds in the newspaper that there is only one furnished apartment in the whole area. Nonetheless, both sources result in disappointment.
Within the week, both results of the drug tests are revealed. Ehrenreich finds herself employed at both Wal-Mart and Menard’s. From previous experience, she is aware that she is not able to work two jobs. Therefore, she weighs her options based on higher pay with longer work hours at Menard’s versus $7 an hour at Wal-Mart. Too exhausted to work eleven hours straight, she chooses to accept the job at Wal-Mart.
Furthermore, her free lodging is concluded as her friend is about to return home. As a result, Ehrenreich decides to rent a room at the Clearview Inn for a weekly rate of $245, which is more than she will make at Wal-Mart. She discovers several things about the room that make her uncomfortable, and more importantly its location causes her to feel unsafe. Eventually, she decides to move to the Comfort Inn where she encounters her moment of final defeat. Ehrenreich realizes that she is spending more money than she earns, and “for purely financial reasons” (p. 189), her job at Wal-Mart is about to
Excited for change in a profession apart from waitressing, nursing homes, or housecleaning, Ehrenreich considers employment in retail or factory work. She begins her pursuit by leaving applications at local Wal-Marts, …show more content…
Ehrenreich goes through the local phone book and the Sunday paper looking for an apartment to rent. Unfortunately, she is only able to leave messages with the agencies listed in the phone book and finds in the newspaper that there is only one furnished apartment in the whole area. Nonetheless, both sources result in disappointment.
Within the week, both results of the drug tests are revealed. Ehrenreich finds herself employed at both Wal-Mart and Menard’s. From previous experience, she is aware that she is not able to work two jobs. Therefore, she weighs her options based on higher pay with longer work hours at Menard’s versus $7 an hour at Wal-Mart. Too exhausted to work eleven hours straight, she chooses to accept the job at Wal-Mart.
Furthermore, her free lodging is concluded as her friend is about to return home. As a result, Ehrenreich decides to rent a room at the Clearview Inn for a weekly rate of $245, which is more than she will make at Wal-Mart. She discovers several things about the room that make her uncomfortable, and more importantly its location causes her to feel unsafe. Eventually, she decides to move to the Comfort Inn where she encounters her moment of final defeat. Ehrenreich realizes that she is spending more money than she earns, and “for purely financial reasons” (p. 189), her job at Wal-Mart is about to