The author of the book, "Nickel and Dimed", Barbara Ehrenreich conducts an experiment of working minimum wage or slightly higher paying jobs with an attempt to survive. She describes herslef as a writer attempting an experiment, I, on the other hand, I AM the experiment attempting to write. I have had personal experience in all the occupations she dabbled with in order to just survive. She begans her journey as a waitress, hotel maid, house cleaner, nursing home aid, and a Wal-Mart salesperson.
I don't care for writing much, I guess it scares me for technicalities (see... is that even a word?) Anyway, forgive me if I write how I think...
On to the subject... I have never in my life made more than 20K a year (and that was one of the better years). I have worked two jobs and gone to school full time and worked in daycares and church nurseries, to be able to take my son with me (I was a single parent for 14 years). I even had to take him to several classes with me while attending undergrad. I am here writing this now because I am determined to have a better future and to prove to my son that hard work in school will pay off.
I am currently making the most per hour that I ever have (and at just one job, in a high school cafeteria) but I still make less than 20K per year. I am in my current job for the convenience of time (my son in school and now, myself back in school) and most importantly- Insurance! Sometimes benefits means alot, especially when you can't make money elsewhere.
I also know I am not getting into a career that I'll ever be real wealthy with, but that's not my purpose, but it would be nice to be able to pay the bills on time and be able to pay back what I'm incurring for this opportunity called education.
I get rather upset about my job, (which is what it is, not a career), because technically... someone without a GED or high school diploma can do what I do, or even be a custodian. This bothers me from the standpoint that I have applied for other positions within the school that require either an associate's degree or at least two years of college. I have a four year degree, but I am still seen in the same context. Don't get me wrong, even the uneducated need jobs and deserve a liveable wage, but sometimes I feel pigeonholed in with them. I feel like I've paid my dues. I'd like to get paid for my brainpain, rather than my backpain. Please don't misunderstand me either... I am thankful for my job... I need it, and with the current economy and job cuts and especially in education, I am thankful, but I want better.
Some people are happy with service industry careers ( I guess Social Work qualifies for that as well), but I'm talking about the service jobs that you can get without degrees, and if they are happy that is great, however, liveable would make them even happier I'm sure.
I believe, and this is my opinion, that many of us work for slave wages just to scrape and those that are over us expect us to be ever so grateful to scrub the ring out of their toilet and clean up vomit. Who's in skipping ahead in line for that one? I know SOMEBODY has to do it... and I'm not saying that I'm too good for it, I'll do it if I have to.
This all leads me to my "conspiracy theory" that the American Dream is for those with advantages already, not for the 'average joe'. The rest of us are left with nightmares.
Wow... who would've guessed I'd get on a soap box and write so much, better save some for next time, huh?
Home for Families: A Miracle in the Making
17 years ago
3 comments:
I work for a social service agency that is mandated to provide services whether people can pay or not. Unfortunately adequate funding is not mandated as well. I get so mad that the people who supply the service-who in fact are the agency- get thought of last.
I was told when I accepted the job that there were routine raises. Not so. I don't even get reimbursed for mileage at the state rate and now with cost of gas am paying a little each month for the priviledge of working. Currently the agency is $300,000 in the red. Support staff are being laid off. I think I am OK because they bill $90 an hour for my service of which I see about
$13. The irony is if this causes me stress I have to pay to receive EAP services even though I work in mental health.
Hi Marjorie
I think you have a very natural writing style and it is particularly well suited for this format. You are a very good writer and I can hear you saying the words when I read what you have written. I feel like certain jobs are no longer valued in our society. I think that people used to feel there was honor and value in hard work but now we are all judged by what we do.Many "less prestigous jobs" no longer pay a wage that people can live on.
Marjorie
I somewhat feel you pain. I did not finish college in the 4 years. I came home and worked at a bank, and then decided it was time to finish. It was very frustrating trying to find a job in my field after I got my degree. It did take me a good 6 months before I got a job at DHR. I went back to the bank and was a teller again, I found myself wondering if I had wasted my time. I am proud of you and all of us for giving up our time and wanting to further our education so that maybe we will not be overlooked for future jobs. Just always know that when this is over, we will have a broader knowledge of social work and we will be able to help those that we serve with a little more enthusiasm and hope. I hope this is not too cheesy:)
Post a Comment