442 SOCIAL SCIENCES AND PUBLIC.
442 SOCIAL SCIENCES AND PUBLIC.
QUESTIONS ’ 522i
1. Ehrenreich tells us in the first paragraph who she is and what she wants. ‘ ' W.
to uncover: “I am . . . a middle-class journalist setting out to explore the} i
world that welfare mothers are entering, at the rate of approximately ‘ c
50,000 a month, as welfare reform kicks in.” What questions does l i I
Ehrenreich ask about this world? How does she make you, her readei;
care about these questions? ' If It E X P L A I N I N G IN T H E
2. According to Ehrenreich, what is the rationale for welfare reform? ‘ i
does she distrust this rationale? , "‘ _:‘ ' ‘ b ' _ l
3. Ehrenreich plunges us into the middle of her work life at the Hearthside.‘ S oC1 a1 SClenceS and Pu 11C Affalrs i
Identify the details and images that you find most compelling and mem- ‘ I
orable. How do these details help her to establish her credibility? ' . fill
4. Ehrenreich tells us that she spent “weeks under the surveillance of men
{and later women) whose job it was to monitor my behavior for signs of
sloth, theft, drug abuse, or worse” (paragraph 19). What role do these; j. ggjf'fl
supervisors play in Ehrenreich’s work life? ‘ hill
5. Ehrenreich points to housing as “the principal source of disruption” l
(paragraph 24) in her coworkers’ lives. Look at her survey of where and W . filijff
how her coworkers live. What does this survey suggest about the diffi-i ' _ Jon Gertner
culties of “(not) getting by in America”? ' : :2
6. At the end of the essay, Ehrenreich calculates how much money she
earned and how much she spent during her month as a waitress. What _ .' I?“ Gama” i5 a COntTibuting “filter to the New York Times Maga-
conclusions does She draw from her budget? ' zine. He has worked as a senior editor at American Lawyer and
7. What questions are you asking about work? Keep a journal in which: . Money 7714341217195 and his aTtiCleS have appeared in 111C” Money,
you ask yourself questions about your current job or former jobs. ‘- :l I and of?” PeriOd‘C‘le- Among Other “dbl-35:5: he has Wine" about
8. Go to the library, and research the federal Welfare Reform Act of 1996. the Significance OfDVDS fo?” the film mall/15W the Claims _of health 551i;
What main arguments did members of Congress offer for and against 7‘ {73719755 om eatmg 5170501439: marketers Who Specmhze m WTket‘
welfare reform during the debates that preceded their vote on the act? ‘ mg to 51711479”: and Various busineSS and fifmflfie mafiefs~ The fOI‘
Research the consequences of welfare reform within your region or state. lowmg 47731513 appeared