Justice and Fairness

In Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich delves into the `third world' of America while attempting to make a living. She undertakes many noble trades, working in low wage and underappreciated jobs while of trying to figure out how the people of this country do it everyday. She works at Hearthside and Jerry's in Florida waitressing, with The Maids in Maine cleaning houses, and with Wal-Mart in Minnesota, serving their `guests', all while earning the minimum wage. She also looks to examine the functional and conflict theories of stratification as they relate to the low wage jobs she pursues.

Two very different ideas are presented in the hierarchy of humanity. These are the theories of stratification. The first is the functionalist theory of stratification. This theory holds that, according to Emile Durkheim, ."..inequalities are good for society..." . Certain people are designed and trained to perform certain jobs, and only those people can perform them to their full capacity. The workplace must reward the employee for good jobs and advances in specialization and training. This will induce the employee to work at his or her full potential. The second idea, which juxtaposes the first, is the conflict theory of stratification. This theory poses the idea that any form of social stratification creates a small powerful group of individuals, and a large group of low wage, working class citizens. This theory also makes the points that, those who are in power, try to keep it, and proceed to create further disadvantages for the working class. The conflict theory in effect states that social inequalities are not good for society as they limit the ability for talented workers to realize their potential and utilize in the workforce.

Ms. E...

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...l-Mart, and concludes her assignment, she begins the formation of a labor union with the workers at Wal-Mart. She convinces many of them that they must standup for themselves, or have someone stand up for them. Ehrenreich is convinced, that with more time, she could have made a union, and made it work for the employees.

Back in the comforts of her own home, Ehrenreich reflects on her past several months. The jobs in Key West, Maine, and Minnesota all helped to form an opinion of the world that she had never experienced, seen, or even thought about. She formed compassion for many of her coworkers, and even began to truly care for a few of them. In the end, Ehrenreich returns to her life, but she takes a part of the labor life with her, she writes an excellent novel that exposes many of the problems in today's labor market, and silently urges them to be fixed.