Nickel and Dimed Chapter 1 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

Where does Barbara decide to start her low-wage life?

Key West, Florida

Where does she first decide to live in Key West, and what are its pros and cons?

$500-a-month efficiency; upside is it is a sweet little place close to her landlord, downside is it's thirty miles from job opportunities.

What is an efficiency?

A form of cheap temporary housing.

What type of jobs does Barbara apply to first in Key West?

Housekeeping at hotels and supermarket jobs, such as Winn-Dixie. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Barbara turn down Winn-Dixie?

She refuses the job due to the required urine test and the low wages offered. Signup and view all the answers

What does Barbara soon discover about the Want Ads in Key West?

They are unreliable indicators of job availability. Signup and view all the answers

What is Barbara's first job in Florida?

A housekeeping gig at a big discount chain hotel. Signup and view all the answers

Who does Barbara shadow on her first day at the Hearthside?

Gail, a waitress. Signup and view all the answers

What does Barbara soon realize after following Gail around at the Hearthside?

She feels overwhelmed by the work and mortified by her lack of competence. Signup and view all the answers

How does Barbara describe Gail?

Kind and supportive, quick on her feet and full of energy. Signup and view all the answers

How does Barbara describe Lionel?

Lionel is a Haitian busboy and still in his teens. Signup and view all the answers

How does Barbara describe Timmy?

A fourteen-year-old busboy who loves to recount Jaws movie plots. Signup and view all the answers

How does Barbara describe Billy?

A kitchen worker with shoulder-length hair and a short temper. Signup and view all the answers

What does Barbara describe about the customers?

A variety including a sewer repairman and German tourists. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two problems that the Hearthside presents to Barbara?

Oppressive management and insufficient pay. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Barbara not like Stu?

He watches for employees relaxing and insists they work even when business is slow. Signup and view all the answers

What does Phillip lecture the employees of the Hearthside about?

The break room and behavior expectations. Signup and view all the answers

What problem does Phillip announce about the workers at the Hearthside?

There has been a report of drug activity in the workplace. Signup and view all the answers

What is Gail's housing situation?

Sharing a room with a man who is hitting on her. Signup and view all the answers

What is Claude's housing situation?

Shares a two-bedroom apartment with three people. Signup and view all the answers

What is Tina's housing situation?

Pays $60 a night for a room in the Days Inn with her husband. Signup and view all the answers

What is Joan's housing situation?

Lives in a van and showers in Tina's motel room. Signup and view all the answers

What is the problem with the Hearthside's medical plan?

Workers have trouble purchasing necessary medications; it kicks in only after three months. Signup and view all the answers

What does Barbara do because of the low wages at the Hearthside?

Resolves to find a second job. Signup and view all the answers

What does Barbara notice about the housekeepers and servers in Key West?

Most housekeepers are African Americans or Spanish-speaking, while servers are typically white and monolingual. Signup and view all the answers

What is Jerry's?

A restaurant attached to a budget hotel that attracts a high volume of customers. Signup and view all the answers

How does Barbara describe working at Jerry's?

Exhausting and makes the Hearthside look like leisure in comparison. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Barbara decide to quit the Hearthside?

Struggling to stay mobile, awake, and alert at work. Signup and view all the answers

How does Barbara describe the customers at Jerry's?

Traditional a**hole types and others who leave no tips. Signup and view all the answers

How does Barbara describe Joy?

A mood-swinging management fixture. Signup and view all the answers

How does Barbara describe B.J.?

Stands by the kitchen counter and yells orders at the staff. Signup and view all the answers

How does Barbara describe Nita?

A twenty-something server with tattoos. Signup and view all the answers

How does Barbara describe Ellen?

A former manager who avoids leadership roles now. Signup and view all the answers

How does Barbara describe Lucy?

Fiftyish with a leg problem requiring health care. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Ehrenreich's saving human connection?

George, a hard-working nineteen-year-old dishwasher from the Czech Republic. Signup and view all the answers

What does Barbara try to teach George?

English. Signup and view all the answers

Who pays George?

The agent who sent him to the U.S. Signup and view all the answers

Where does George live?

In an apartment with other Czech dishers. Signup and view all the answers

Where does Barbara move to after living in the efficiency?

A trailer in the Overseas Trailer Park, closer to Key West. Signup and view all the answers

What does Vic tell Barbara?

There was an issue with a dishwasher trying to steal something. Signup and view all the answers

Does Barbara believe that George is innocent? Does she stand up for him?

She believes it was a misunderstanding but does not speak up for him. Signup and view all the answers

What is Ehrenreich's third job in Key West?

Housekeeping at the hotel Jerry's is attached to. Signup and view all the answers

Who does Barbara meet at the housekeeping job in Key West?

Carlotta, a middle-aged African American woman. Signup and view all the answers

How many days does Barbara spend at the housekeeping job in Florida?

1 day. Signup and view all the answers

What keeps the housekeepers going at the hotel in Florida?

The TV that keeps them entertained. Signup and view all the answers

What does Barbara promise to give George? Does she keep the promise?

She promises him all her tips that night but forgets in the rush. Signup and view all the answers

What does Barbara do with the key to her trailer in Key West when she leaves?

Gives it to Gail and arranges for her deposit transfer. Signup and view all the answers

What does Barbara say about the American Dream and work ethic after being in Florida?

The American Dream can be unhelpful or impractical against harsh realities. Signup and view all the answers

What does Barbara say about management after being in Florida?

She describes humiliations from management and ineffectual rules. Signup and view all the answers

What does Barbara say is the key to getting through the day in Florida?

Escape of the mental or emotional variety. Signup and view all the answers

Why didn't Barbara stand up for George as she explains in her words?

Her 'crusading spirit' is extinguished by the work environment. Signup and view all the answers

What does Barbara say happens to the mind after being in low-wage work?

It can lead to a loss of courage and dignity. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Locations and Housing

Barbara begins her low-wage life in Key West, Florida, close to her home.
She initially lives in a $500-a-month efficiency apartment, which is charming but far from employment opportunities.

Job Applications and Employment Insights

First job applications focus on housekeeping positions in hotels and at Winn-Dixie supermarket.
Barbara declines the Winn-Dixie position due to a required urine test and low starting wages of just over $6 per hour.
She discovers that want ads are unreliable indicators of job availability, serving as a "turnover insurance policy" for employers.

Work Experiences

Barbara's first job is at the Hearthside restaurant within a discount hotel, where she feels overwhelmed by the fast-paced environment.
Shadowing experienced waitress Gail, she confronts the demands of managing multiple tables.

Descriptions of Colleagues

Gail is depicted as helpful and energetic despite personal struggles.
Other employees include Lionel, a young Haitian busboy, and Timmy, a teenager with a passion for movies.
Various colleagues face housing challenges, such as sharing cramped living spaces or living in a van.

Management and Workplace Dynamics

Management at the Hearthside is described as oppressive, with strict oversight by Stu, who monitors employees constantly.
Employee lectures from Phillip emphasize a harsh approach to management and reinforce the notion that breaks are privileges.

Employee Housing and Welfare

Workers face precarious living situations, often unable to afford adequate housing or medical care, due to low wages and delayed health benefits.
Barbara notes the distinct racial and ethnic composition of the workforce; housekeepers are primarily minority groups, while servers are predominantly white.

Transition to Jerry’s Restaurant

Barbara takes a second job at Jerry's to handle financial strain, finding it more demanding than the Hearthside with constant customer traffic.
The working conditions at Jerry's include minimal break times and a chaotic atmosphere, contrasting her previous experiences.

Interpersonal Relationships and Connections

Barbara develops a bond with George, a Czech dishwasher, sharing language lessons and sympathizing with his struggles.
Promises made to George are forgotten amidst the hectic work environment, highlighting the stress employees face.

Reflections on Work Ethic and the American Dream

Barbara critiques the American Dream, questioning its practicality in the face of harsh labor conditions.
Management actions contribute to a demoralizing workplace atmosphere, reducing employees to a state of submission.

Psychological Impact of Low-Wage Work

Low-wage jobs wear down employees mentally, likening their experiences to those of POWs losing their spirit under pressure.
Barbara explores themes of emotional escape as a coping mechanism, emphasizing a pervasive sense of invisibility among workers.

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Description

These flashcards cover key concepts and facts from Chapter 1 of 'Nickel and Dimed' by Barbara Ehrenreich. Learn about her initial decisions in Key West, Florida, as she starts her exploration of low-wage life. Use these cards to enhance your understanding of the chapter's themes and settings.