Barbara Ehrenreich is a social critic, feminist, and political activist. "Her work ranges from examinations of the oppression of women by the health care industry to reasoned defenses of feminism against a social backlash to complex political and social critiques suggesting that modern America has lost its heart" (Biographical Essay). All of Ehrenreich's books, articles, and essays display her intelligence, sarcasm, and consistent political agenda. Ehrenreich's morals and values of caring for people were engraved by her family. Her father was a copper miner, and her mother was a homemaker and an active in the Democratic Party. Her parents instilled the importance of responsibility and support for those in need. Ehrenreich received both her B.A. and Ph.D. in the sciences. Her progressive work in the 1960s influenced her to become a social activist and writer rather than a scientist.
             Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed depicts the demanding and challenging life of a minimum wage employee. The book illustrates the negative opinion of society towards the working lower class. Ehrenreich achieves these insights by experiencing firsthand the trials and tribulations of a minimum wage salary. She infuses the situation with repeated images and witty diction that probe themes of greed, prejudice, and domination. Barbara begins her experience in a small motel restaurant in Key West, Florida. Because of her overpowering boss and tedious chores, she quickly switches to a service cleaning service job at the same motel. When her expectations of Florida have diminished, she moves on to Maine to rekindle her motivation. In Maine, she starts working with a locally owned small cleaning service. While working there she also faces many struggles dealing with shelter, food, and transportation. When she is emotionally and physically exhausted after weeks of cleaning, she decides to extend her experience to Minnesota. In Minnesota, she works at a Wal-Mar...