Evaluation

Ehrenreich assesses how she did in these three experiments. She concludes that she did well at her jobs, stressing that there is no such thing as unskilled labor, as every job has specific damands and skill sets that must be learned. Her ability at work, however, is distinct from how she did in ends meet; she believes she came closes in making earnings match expenses in Maine and was least sure of this goal in Minnesota. Ehrenreich examines the general social issues underlying her experiences. The constant problem of housing is caused by the rich competing with the poor for living space, with the rich inevitably coming out on top. And though market forces drive rent up, the same cannot be said for wages available to the lower class. While the legal minimum wage and actual wages earned have both risen for the lowest ten percent of workers, Ehrenreich believes it is not nearly enough. Employers will do anything to aboid raising wages, such as providing minor benefits that can be taken away more easily when costs tighten. Further, minumum-wage workers employees do not have the same resources as other workers to allow independent comparison of wages and job markers. Even if they did, their ability to change work situations is often restricted by outside concerns such as home environment, transportation, and second jobs.