Question 1: Difference between Ehrenreich’s job and video
In the video, Erenreich is promised a thirty minutes break but she ends up getting a five minutes break. Work is done continuously in all the rooms and even after finishing it is necessary to still find something else to do (Ehrenreich, 49). The maids in the video seem to be enjoying the work and not using a lot of energy. Unlike in the video where the maids could simply work with machines, Ehrenreich have to clean the floors in a traditional way (pg 49). The work at Ehrenreichs place involves a lot of physical bonding and use of muscles while from the video it is the mind that works in using the cleaning chemicals. This is clearly described as Ehrenreich explains that they sweated a lot, and required the knee pads because of the fact that they knelt for long hours while mopping the traditional way (pg 50). In the video still the maids get instructions from a male voice, which is probably very cool but in actual instructions comes from the owner of the house and down to the maids in a way that is so inhuman. It is clear that the video was just an advertisement, which does not give the real picture of the work. The relationship between the employer (Mrs. W) and the servants is so poor and owner is almost unapproachable.
Question 2: Interactions between Mrs. W, Maddy and the Maids
W is not pleased seeing the maids grimacing with the nanny, she does not show the maids round the rooms and does not even greet the maids despite the fact that some, like Ehrenreich, are new. The main reason as to why Ehrenreich includes the interactions of Mrs. W, Maddy and the maids is to show the hierarchy and tyrannical relationship that exists among them with Mrs. W being at the top-most rank and the maids at the lowest rank. The work of Mrs. W is only to telephone and give instructions on which the group leader, Maddy, is expected to implement through the maids (pg 48). When Mrs. W arrives and find the maids and Maddy Ehrenreich gives a description of the standing posture they have. Mrs. W is in front then Maddy is closely after her and the Ehrenreich and the other maid stands behind. Mrs. W cannot talk to the maids directly- mostly because she feels that she is kinder more important for that. This form of management is very dehumanizing as people with high social economic status are regarded as being more important than those with less wealth.
Question 3: Lessons from paragraph 13
Maddy is only 27 years single mother- who complaints about the many issues she is having with child care (pg 48). It is ironic that Maddy finds all these problems while working for Mrs. W whose current profession includes monitoring babies’ bowel. Ehrenreich exclaims ‘I wonder what the childcare deprived Maddy makes of all this.’ (pg 49) Ehrenreich is trying to bring out the contrast about Maddy having access to so many resources that can assist her in child care and the fact that she never seem to use the resources. Another contrast is that despite the fact that Mrs. W works with children she does not seem to be concerned with the child of her servant. Many people agree that charity should begin at home and for the case of Mrs. W this appears not to be the case. The reader is left wondering why Mrs Maddy has to possess so much knowledge and resource that can help Maddy and still she complains of issues with child care. The main point that Ehrenreich s trying to raise is on the hypocrisy of Mrs. W. If someone was to go through the biography of Mrs. W he/she would probably believe that she was a very good person and even offered to help children but in real sense she is not helping even the people in her house.
Question 4: Interactions between Mrs. W and Ehrenreich
Leaders should be considerate to the employees to enhance good outcome- but this is not the situation with Mrs. Ehrenreich. The interaction between Ehrenreich and Mrs. W is so cold, Ehrenreich explains catching Mrs. W staring at her so fixedly that it almost occurs that Mrs. W is recalling where they had ever met (pg 50). Mrs. W seem not to be moved by the sweat that Ehrenreich has and tells her to again scrub the entrance as she leaves eve after doing so much work. The method of scrubbing is metaphorical reflecting the way Mrs. W treats Ehrenreich. Ehrenreich is just like the floor is scrubbed is worked on so thoroughly that by the end of the work she feels so exhausted but that does not impress her boss- she still have to do some more work. It is almost as if maids do not have blood and flesh so rest is a waste of time.
Work cited
Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel and Dimed. New York: Henry Holt and Company. 2001.
