1. On (Not) Getting By in America 1

2.  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 2

3.  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 3

4.  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? 4

5.  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 5

6.  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 6

7.  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 7