Exploring the Challenges of Low-Wage Labor: A Look into Ehrenreich's 'Nickel and Dimed', Quizzes of Social Work

Download Exploring the Challenges of Low-Wage Labor: A Look into Ehrenreich's 'Nickel and Dimed' and more Quizzes Social Work in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 2nd chapter of nickel and dimed where does Ehrenreich move? Why? DEFINITION 1 She moves to Maine because of the large number of white, English-speaking people in the low-wage work-force, where she notes there is an abundance of work available. TERM 2 Where does she live in chpt 2? DEFINITION 2 Ehrenreich begins her stay in a Motel 6, which becomes her base from which to seek employment and more-permanent housing. After numerous disappointing attempts to secure housing, Ehrenreich finds a cottage for $120 a week and decides to take it. She realizes if she spent more time looking she may have found something cheaper, but she could not afford to continue paying $59 a night for a hotel room. TERM 3 Ehrenreich learns about housing in Old Orchard Beach for $65 a week. Why did she pass up on it? DEFINITION 3 because of the bad living situation, probably illegal TERM 4 Something she is surprised to learn in chpt 2 relating to housing. DEFINITION 4 She is surprised to learn that jobs in Portland do not pay any better than in Key West . She finds this startling because logic holds that if the supply of labor is low relative to demand, wages should rise. Yet, this is........... TERM 5 Where does she work in Maine? DEFINITION 5 She finds two jobs that she is able to keep at the same time- working as a maid for a housekeeping service during the week, and as a dietary aide in a nursing home on the weekends. TERM 6 nursing job-what it consists of DEFINITION 6 The nursing home job, consists mainly of feeding the residents of the nursing home and cleaning up the food items. After a short time on the job Ehrenreich is entrusted with feeding the entire Alzheimer's ward by herself. She surprised that with so little experience on the job she is given such a responsibility. Many of the patients are diabetic and the wrong desert could worsen their health. She remains nervous during this time but has pride in her work after her shift is completed. TERM 7 Why is the housekeeping job in Maine so hard? DEFINITION 7 But during that week, working for a housekeeping company gets more and more difficult for her, both physically and mentally. Ted, the boss, is strict with the women who work for him and keeps them to a rigid schedule that they must adhere to. The schedule makes it difficult for any of the women to have a lunch break, and a low wages means that most of them don't have lunch to bring. They spend most of their lunch breaks and picking up a few items, such as potato chips, at a local convenience store and eating it in the car. TERM 8 2 housekeepers she worked with in Maine...? (names) DEFINITION 8 There are two housekeepers that Ehrenreich works with often- Marge and Holly. TERM 9 Marge in housekeeping DEFINITION 9 Marge teaches Ehrenreich about the different pain medications that can help with the physical pain caused by performing the housekeeping duties. TERM 10 Holly in housekeeping DEFINITION 10 Holly is a young woman who has been with the company's long enough to be the supervisor. During one day of work she twists her ankle and is unable to walk without pain. She refuses to see a doctor but instead wants to finish their day's work. Holly finds out she is pregnant. The other women discover her condition because of her nausea and dizziness. She is vague when they ask her whether she is pregnant, not wanting to miss any work or to be treated differently. TERM 21 In each job she noted a lack of DEFINITION 21 She laments the lack of any encouragement or compliments from her coworkers on her performance, and decides she was average, but capable. TERM 22 She described the unskilled jobs as being challenging in 2 ways DEFINITION 22 Physically and mentally challenging TERM 23 Problems she noted in all of her jobs DEFINITION 23 The rise of rents is greatly outstripping the rise in pay, especially for hourly workers. Low income housing is disappearing for many cities, forcing people to live further outside the city or to live three and four to an efficiency apartment. The labor shortage she had been expecting to drive up wages had no effect on the wages she was able to get. She found that employers used many tricks in order to keep wages low and employees coming back to keep their jobs. TERM 24 Why did she believe drug tests were required for most jobs? DEFINITION 24 The drug tests required of many jobs, she believed, were mainly in force to denigrate the employees and force them to see themselves in a lowly position. TERM 25 The house keeping company gave them free breakfast in the morning but yet still refused to... DEFINITION 25 raise their wages even as they repeatedly came up short handed TERM 26 Why did she believe that many of the jobs she worked at had policies to keep employees talking from one on one to each other? DEFINITION 26 Most of the places where Ehrenreich worked had policies against the employees talking to each other in one capacity or another. This was thought to keep employees from airing any grievances or even attempting to organize against the management. TERM 27 The main way that wages are kept low is by reinforcing the low self-esteem portion she found inherent in each job. This included... DEFINITION 27 reinforcing the low self-esteem portion she found inherent in each job. This included random drug tests, being yelled at by bosses, being accused of rule infractions, and being treated in many ways she felt was more like a child than a woman in her 50s should be treated. TERM 28 What is a tenderloin? DEFINITION 28 San Francisco neighborhood In the heart of the city One of the most heterogeneous areas in the US Very poor residents TERM 29 gentrification how is it happening in the tenderloin? DEFINITION 29 buying or renovating of houses and stores in a deteriorated urban neighborhood by upper class families or property developers which will improve property values and displace business 3 major hotels being built there it will not displace anyone zoning laws at the time allowed hotels to be there TERM 30 tactical activism DEFINITION 30 planning oriented toward achieving and planning goals TERM 31 Why were the tactical activists successful? DEFINITION 31 they see the world the way itis in order to change it most effectively they were successful, practical planners they get things done TERM 32 How have national, state, and local governments, as well as the media, framed the issue of homelessness? DEFINITION 32 they have mental health isses they are lazy they are minorities they live off of welfare TERM 33 Two fundamental problems confronting social activists addressing homelessness DEFINITION 33 Persistence of widespread homelessness has increased public skepticism about the potential for its resolution Public shift in attitudes about homelessness Compassion fatigue TERM 34 compassion fatigue DEFINITION 34 People are tired of showing they care because people can only give so much. Gradual lessening of compassion over time TERM 35 Environmental Issues Surrounding Homelessness Issue DEFINITION 35 Release of A Nation in Denial Bad media attention surrounding camping Not offering up good solutions, so the public voted for a bad solution; citing that it was better than nothing TERM 46 Bush followers tended to be: DEFINITION 46 Pro-life Against gun control Opposed to environmental regulations Favored reduction in size of federal government TERM 47 Bush declared war on global terrorism(after 9/11): DEFINITION 47 Said it would be the focus of his administration Persuades Congress to enact a resolution which gave him authority to: Use force against terrorism in the future Enacted Patriot Act to ease restrictions on apprehending terrorist suspects to the concern of many civil libertarians Worked to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan with an international coalition TERM 48 Develops in spring and summer of 2002 DEFINITION 48 No Child Left Behind legislation enacted in Jan 02 Increased federal subsidies to schools by $11 billion, as well as a national system of school testing and economics penalties for schools failing to improve their tests scores The economy continued to decline Stock market collapsed due to dot.com bubble bursting Many corps in scandals over accounting practices Nation remained preoccupied with security against terrorists TERM 49 Bush v. Kerry election 2004-major issue DEFINITION 49 The state of the economy TERM 50 Bush platform focused on domestic policy: 2004 election DEFINITION 50 Motto people helping themselves Proposed five tax assisted accounts that people could get tax breaks for saving or using money for special purposes Proposed tax assisted retirement savings TERM 51 how did bush win 2004 election DEFINITION 51 The Bush campaign relied heavily on the argument that they could best safeguard the nation from terrorism Bush was unable to enact Social Security or Medicare reforms TERM 52 Bush platform focused on domestic policy (in 2004) DEFINITION 52 Motto people helping themselves Proposed five tax assisted accounts that people could get tax breaks for saving or using money for special purposes Proposed tax assisted retirement savings TERM 53 "the fixer" article DEFINITION 53 It was about Ward Conolly saying that affirmative action is no longer needed in America TERM 54 affirmative action DEFINITION 54 preferential treatment towards the minority.