Nickle and Dimed by Babara Ehrenreich

Compared to the other essays and excerpts I have read and blogged about, Babara Ehrenreich's writing style was by far the most unique. Although there were certain parts of the essay I would've preferred to skip over like the comparisons of sh*t; there were also very well put together phrases that really made me think. Perhaps the most interesting concept that I got from her writing was that "the working poor...are in fact the major philanthropists of our society", the idea that the less fortunate and working class are here to ensure that the rich and well off are comfortable, their children are cared for, and their houses are in pristine condition, is a very interesting and sad thing. Eventhough, it is true that in order to provide for their family, it often meant sacrificing the limited amount of time they had, it's still sad to think about. Ehenreich's writing style was truly unique, and this essay was meant to envoke a feeling of shame rather than guilt as she stated in one of the last paragraphs. Although some may see this essay as hostile and in your face, I find it resonable, considering that she related herself as a social critic to people like Upton Sinclair and Jacob Riis.