1. Ehrenreich provides an insightful, yet troubling view of the working poor and the common challenges they face. The author herself faced a life of employment much different than the ones that went before her, sitting at a desk rather then working in a mine. However, she gives up this comfort and security to put herself in the shoes of those who have no choice but to live that life. She first discusses the struggles of finding a place to live. What most low-income workers deal with is finding places that are not just affordable, but affordable so you can have money left over for the rest of your expenses. Even for Ehrenreich, who has money to spend that is not from her earnings, struggles to comprehend making ends meet for housing and expenses. Ehrenreich begins applying for jobs – wanting to scream at the variety of managers “this is a project, not my life”. However, she begins to understand the tribulations that low-income workers go through that make it a) hard to get a job, and b) hard to keep a job. She mentions drug testing, applications, the interview process to never get a call back, and the struggle of not having clothes to wear to a job interview. Once in the position as a server, she experiences foul treatment from the men at her restaurant, both workers and customers. (Personal note, I am a server, and this is true and just as hurtful to me, working for extra money and not my primary income). When it comes to transportation, Ehrenreich maintains her vehicle, but sees the hardship her coworkers face when they don’t have one, or when their car is also their home. While many of the hardships that “regular” low-income workers face don’t impact Ehrenreich in the same way, she experiences them on a level that is detrimental for her success on this project.
  2. First, I would start with places like grocery stores and mom-and-pop restaurants. The Iron Skillet down School Ave is primarily staffed by middle-aged women working the same job I do. This is a place much like Jerry’s where Ehrenreich works, giving some valuable insight into low-income workers like the author found. Such questions to ask would be very personal yet very important, and could even come off rude in some scenarios. However, they could be questions such as:
    1. How do you manage the instability of tips and keep an income that way?
    2. How do you emotionally handle the comments of the men that come in almost daily?
    3. Do you have a second job?
    4. Do you struggle to make ends meet?

Across town, I’m a server at Grubs, which brings in an entire different clientele from the Iron Skillet. I would ask some of my coworkers, or at the other Grubs locations, the same questions. The majority of people who work at Grubs are in college or fresh-out, mostly living off of their parents still but they choose to work this job for some extra cash. I am curious to see how similar or different the answers would be for two different demographics of servers.