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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