Questions and Answers
Who does Barbara help in this section?
Melissa
Their job turns out to be keeping the ladies' wear area ________?
shoppable
Instead of ________?
asking if customers need help
What do they have to do to keep the area ___________?
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How does Barbara feel the first few days at Wal-Mart? Why?
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What do Barbara and Melissa measure their workload in?
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How long does it take them to complete each task?
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Does Barbara like Ellie or Howard more, and why?
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Why does Barbara move rooms at the Clearview?
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What does Alyssa ask, and what does Barbara realize because of the question?
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What does Barbara notice about the room next door at the Clearview?
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How does Barbara picture the owner of Clearview Inn's wife?
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What act of kindness does Melissa do for Barbara and why?
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What causes Barbara's two 15-minute breaks to now be vital?
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What is Barbara's attitude change between the first half of the shift at Wal-Mart and the second?
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What does Barbara find when she comes back to her section after her last break one evening?
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What does the mysterious woman say is her job and why?
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What is Barbara's worry about her personality after working at Wal-Mart?
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What happens on the day Barbara tries to move into the Hopkins Park Plaza?
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Where does Barbara apply for a weekend job in Minneapolis? Does she get the job? Why or why not?
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Where does the YWCA refer Barbara to? What does she rule the recommended place out?
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Who does Barbara call for insights? What rejuvenates her sense that she's not entirely alone?
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Why does Barbara leave Clearview Inn? Where does she choose to stay?
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What makes Barbara feel less defeated when she has to leave the Clearview Inn?
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How long did Barbara think she was going to stay at the Comfort Inn? What did the Comfort Inn turn out to be? Why does Barbara feel defeated?
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Though Barbara never finds an apartment, what is her last attempt?
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What does the woman at the United Way of Minneapolis suggest to Barbara?
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At the first office, what is included in the emergency food aid the woman gives Barbara?
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At the first office, who does the woman mix Barbara up with? What does this show Barbara?
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What does Barbara realize as she picks up after the mothers that are shopping?
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What is Isabelle's reaction when she hears Barbara's theory?
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Why does Barbara think no one complains about the wages they're paid at Wal-Mart?
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What does Isabelle say when Barbara asks how she can afford to live on $7 an hour?
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What does Melissa say about her wage history? Does Barbara understand Melissa's unwillingness to search for another job?
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Why does Melissa not like taking too long on a task?
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What does Howard say when Alyssa tries to negotiate the price of the $7 polo down after finding a stain on it?
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What causes Barbara to realize Wal-Mart needs a union?
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What does Barbara discover when she talks to other employees about the union?
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What does Stan say about his wages and his life?
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What does Marlene say about Wal-Mart?
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Does Barbara believe unions are a cure-all?
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What is the main reason Barbara wants to create a union in Wal-Mart?
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She's also discovering how ___________ a lot of low-wage work can be?
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What happens on the news on the day Barbara decides to quit?
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What caused Barbara to commit 'time theft'? What does Howard say when he sees Barbara? Was committing 'time theft' worth it and why or why not?
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What is Melissa's response when Barbara tells her that she is quitting?
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What does Melissa say in response to Barbara telling her about the book she's writing?
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Why does Barbara choose Minneapolis?
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What car is Barbara driving in Minneapolis?
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Where did Barbara stay in the beginning of Minneapolis?
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What kind of job is Barbara looking for in Minneapolis?
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Did Barbara get all of the questions right on the personality survey at Wal-Mart?
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What is Sam Walton's personal philosophy, according to Roberta?
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What is Barbara's concern about the drug test at Wal-Mart?
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What does Barbara do after finding out she may not pass the drug test at Wal-Mart?
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What is the name of the woman Barbara meets and visits in Minnesota?
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What is Caroline's story?
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How does Caroline relate to Barbara?
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Study Notes
Minneapolis Arrival
- Barbara chooses Minneapolis for its liberal welfare policy and availability of $8/hour jobs.
- She rents a "Rent-A-Wreck" car upon arrival.
Initial Accommodations
- Stays at a friend's apartment while taking care of a cockatiel; room is small and cozy.
- Shares the space with the cockatiel, reflecting low-wage workers' often cramped living situations.
Job Search Experience
- She seeks retail or factory work to change her job circumstances.
- Begins filling out applications at Wal-Mart and Target, realizing in-person applications may improve her chances.
Wal-Mart Interaction
- Barbara develops a rapport with Roberta, an employee sympathetic to her job search.
- Fails to score perfectly on the personality survey due to attempting to avoid appearing insincere.
Drug Test Concerns
- Faces a drug test at Wal-Mart and contemplates her history with marijuana, raising anxiety about passing.
- Pursues an assembly job opportunity at Menards, prompted by a "Now Hiring" sign and a feeling of urgency.
Encounter at Menards
- Experiences a tougher personality test at Menards, which includes odd questions about fistfights and drug dealing.
- Offered a position in plumbing for $8.50/hour, contingent on passing the drug test.
Housing Struggles
- Struggles to find affordable housing with a vacancy rate below 1%.
- Contacted by Hopkins Park Plaza about applying for affordable weekly rentals.
Connection with Caroline
- Meets Caroline, who shares personal struggles; Caroline's family makes $40,000 a year, categorizing them as middle class.
- Barbara realizes the difference between her own situation and Caroline's resilience.
Drug Testing Insights
- Understands how drug testing hampers workers’ job mobility and adds significant stress.
- Completing drug tests highlights systemic issues within employment practices.
Job Offers and Confusion
- Secures jobs at both Wal-Mart and Menards, but struggles with conflicting schedules and exhaustion.
- Reflects on the lack of negotiation opportunities in job hiring processes.
Experience at the Clearview Inn
- Declares Clearview Inn potentially "the worst motel in the country", characterizing it as moldy and unsafe.
- Observes the vulnerability faced by poor women in precarious living situations.
Employment at Wal-Mart
- Assigned to the ladies' wear department; her tasks revolve around making the area "shoppable", often neglecting customer assistance.
- Feels contemptuous towards the work structure and finds initial days lack urgency.
Team Dynamics
- Enjoys working with empathetic colleagues like Ellie but dislikes Howard's strictness during meetings.
- Measures workload in terms of carts returned, highlighting the inefficiency of the shopping process.
Final Thoughts
- Barbara's experiences shed light on the complexities of low-wage work, housing instability, and the constant juggling of economic demands.### Work Environment Observations
- Alyssa inquires about a clearance item at Wal-Mart, highlighting employee struggles with affordability on low wages.
- Barbara observes the living conditions of neighboring workers, noting inadequate sleeping arrangements.
Internal Struggles and Dynamics
- Barbara perceives the owner's wife as limited in her cleaning duties, suggesting a background of arranged marriage and potential language barriers.
- Melissa’s act of kindness in bringing food to Barbara contrasts with corporate penny-pinching mentality, emphasizing camaraderie among workers.
Shift Changes and Workload
- Barbara's shift changing impacts her break management, forcing her to multitask essential needs in limited time.
- Attitude shift occurs where Barbara grows resentful of customers, recognizing a shift from initial helpfulness to frustration with shopper behavior.
Interactions with Colleagues
- A confrontation occurs with a new employee about T-shirt organization, reflecting tensions in workplace dynamics.
- Barbara begins to worry about becoming a harsher version of herself after noticing changes in her personality during her time at Wal-Mart.
Housing Challenges
- Barbara faces housing uncertainty when a promised room becomes unavailable, reflecting the struggle for affordable living.
- Attempts to secure a second job are thwarted by Rainbow supermarket's demand for full-time hours, complicating her financial situation.
Community Resources and Support
- YWCA directs Barbara to Budget Lodging, but she finds it unsuitable, reflecting on the difficulty of finding affordable accommodation.
- Reaching out to Caroline provides Barbara a moment of reassurance, reinforcing her sense of connection despite isolation.
Financial Strain and Job Market Realities
- Barbara’s financial strain is highlighted when she realizes her earnings from Wal-Mart are insufficient after three weeks.
- Last-ditch efforts to find housing lead to a recommendation for a homeless shelter, signaling desperation.
Reflection on Job Experience and Wage Issues
- Barbara connects household duties to her work, suggesting working mothers may treat stores like Wal-Mart as a break.
- Isabelle and Melissa share experiences about using lower wages to survive, revealing the shared struggles employees face.
Union and Worker Rights Awareness
- Realizations about the need for a union arise from discussions with coworkers about poor pay and lack of overtime.
- Concerns expressed by Stan and Marlene about workplace practices reflect a broader critique of Wal-Mart’s employment strategy.
Personal Decisions and Conclusions
- Barbara's contemplation of quitting coincides with a labor strike in the area, hinting at the broader labor movement.
- Decisions about "time theft" at work illustrate the pressure employees feel when balancing job demands with personal needs.
Quitting and Future Endeavors
- Barbara shares her resignation intentions with coworkers, hinting at a shared dissatisfaction that may lead to others leaving as well.
- She discusses her writing project with Melissa, highlighting her desire to document employee experiences and struggles within Wal-Mart.
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Description
Explore key concepts from Chapter 3 of 'Nickel and Dimed' through flashcards. This chapter discusses Barbara's reasons for selecting Minneapolis and other important insights into her experiences and observations. Test your understanding of the material with these flashcards.