On (Not) Getting By in America
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Barbara Ehrenreich was born in Butte, Montana in
1941
Father was a coal miner, and mother was a
homemaker
Grew up as a part of the “working class”
Attended Reed College and earned a PhD in cell
biology
Joined a non profit organization in NYC where she
began investigating stories for the monthly
bulletin
Published columns in Ms. and Mother Jones
magazines
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Published in 2001
Began by exploring the ramifications of the
1996 welfare reform programs, including the
welfare to work incentive
Her motivation was to show that a job is not
necessarily the answer to being able to survive
Combats the “too lazy to work” attitude by
introducing readers to the “working poor”
Questions a society that continuously rewards
the richest members of society and ignores the
poorest
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She argues that the “spirit and dignity are
chipped away by a culture that allows unjust
working conditions”
Poses hypothetical questions: How difficult is it
to live on a minimum wage job? and What
does it take to match the income one earns to
the bills one must pay?
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A recent study indicates that nearly 30% of
Americans get by on poverty wages
72% of “poor” Americans hold a job, and
statistically work the equivalent of a one and
one quarter full time job
Contrary to stereotypes the majority of those
living in poverty are neither immigrants,
minorities or single parent families
The top 1% of US households account for
21.8%of the income
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Written in style of undercover journalist, she
assumes the role of a minimum wage worker
Often compared to John Howard Griffin’s
“Black Like Me” and the teen aimed movie
“Fat Like Me” on Lifetime network
Explores Employment and Economics
Work Ethic and the American Dream
Democracy
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As an activist she is not so much an objective
journalist as an opinionated writer (she freely
admits however she is opinionated, and wants
to effect change)
Some have criticized the book for what has
been perceived as anti- Christian themes.
Some have tried to re create the experiment
and have reported more positive experiences
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