Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich - Essay Example

Critical theory and social constructionism An analysis of "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich Presented Critical theory and social constructionism Social constructionism might be considered to be an important concept in the narrative and identity research and theorizing. For example, social construction of identity largely would be portrayed by this case: in the current modern life there is much control of advertising by social institutions such as the schools, financial institutions, and different types of work. This leaves little freedom for the individual person to try on personal narratives that fit to the unique stories and have the space and time to formulate their own stories and identity. On the other hand the critical theory refers to pathways of intellectual inquiry that emerged with the end of the 18th century European enlightenment; particularly with the wide spread waning of intellectual confidence that explains that the newly hegemonic bourgeoisie society would eventually succeed in realizing the enlightenment ideals. Analysis Today, the market may be thought to be saturated (Oliver 1999, 81). Generally social constructs are the views that people have on us, and how people describe us. The idea behind social cosntructionism is that people hear or experience these views over and over, and this makes them believe these views or have a picture that depicts these stories as being true. For example a million man march reflects that what the people march for is not well known by majority of the people in the march but he people seek to change this situation using their own social construction that reflect whom they really are. However such a million-man march would not change the people’s perception and much is required to have an effect on these views. This describes the power and the effects of social constructionism (Nowlan, 2001). In general critical theory explains that the current society that is capitalist in nature cannot at this moment realize the enlightenment ideals of an enlightened society that requires that such a society has to be just, humane, and rational society (Nowlan, 2001). This is largely explained by the explanation of workers, a situation that makes the society to appear inhumane. The book Nickel and dimed by Ehnrenreich clearly starts on a note that portrays a well defined case of critical theory concerning workers and how they are being treated as well as their working conditions. There is a great contrast between Lampham who takes the writer for a lunch for about $30 at a “country style place” the writer and Lampham are in deep reflection of how four million women have to live on the wages that are paid to the unskilled with a salary for about $6 and $ 7 per hour, with about 4 million women who are not literate and who are in the market looking for the lowly unskilled lowly jobs to make a living or to sustain themselves. Horkheimer (1989, 2) explains that in an antidote to the frequently non critical quantitative approaches in the contemporary science, critical theory serves to provide potentially more useful and politically relevant alternative that the currently fashionable approach such as existentialism an phenomenology. The eschewing divisions in the society in the book Nickel and Dimed by Ehnrenreich are clear, and by large magnitude have gone deeper to portray inhuman and a cruel world where the illiterate have to endure cruel wages and mistreatment to make a living. Making 6-7 dollars per hour with more than four million women being emptied into the market would be the easiest way to poverty. It is through this that critical theory sets forth a normative social theory that seeks to establish a connection with the empirical analysis to the contemporary world; a world that is portrayed in Nickel and dimed by Ehnrenreich specifically in “getting ready” as being unfair and inhumane. The different classes in this book appear as the writer states that “someone ought to do the old fashioned kind of journalism –you know go out there and try it for them.” (Ehnrenreich 2001, 1-2). Critical theory in this case has always to be an attempt to intervene in this frightful and rapidly unfolding inhuman condition (Wilkerson & Paris 2001, 16). The journalist have to undergo though humiliating and lowly dirty jobs to uncover the inhuman treatment of the workers in complying with the critical theory, in that by exposing these stories, the employers would be forced to make the necessary changes. Despite using the critical theory to analyze and criticism the wages that the workers are being paid and having it as unfair, the writer on the other hand backtracks and leaves this duty for a hungry journalist or someone who has the time to undertake this work. As earlier explained, social constructionism relate to formation of some types of stereo types where some people have psychological narratives of them being more important and deserving more than the rest in the society thus resulting to a large divide (Mackay et al, 1997). The writer confesses that she is too busy and this means that she has no time for the lowly workers. This as the writer leaves it would require the social group to replace the old theories or practices of being paid lowly by either getting the skills or using other forums to advocate for better working; terms since in social constructionism ,their status is not fixed and depends on them to change it (Hibberd 2005, 3). The current state in as Ehnrenreich explains is an erosion of the Marxism ideals that advocated for a socialism type of society. The socialism or the altitude of portraying value in all people was destroyed and eroded by the creeping in of capitalism, which is responsible for the exploitation of workers, and class divisions in the society (Abram et al 2006, 181). Largely the workers are denied their voice or their presence in the society as one worker laments that “No one recognizes my face or my name, which goes unnoticed, and for the most part unuttered. This is a parallel universe where …I am the ‘blondie’, I am the ‘baby’, ‘honey’ and most commonly, ‘girl’” (Ehnrenreich, 2001: 11-12). These words as uttered portray a confused identity where the narrator proves that the society has abandoned them. This has created a stereotyped mind where the narrator does not feel important anymore, due to the images created under constructionism. This portrays a case where as Marx elaborated there has to be an inherently self critical theory that would offer a well articulated stand point of meeting social reality; meaning that it has to seek an emancipatory alternative to the existing order (Horkheimer 1989, 2). There is knowledge that has been taken for granted and some historical and cultural specificity that is sustained by social process and the knowledge and action are intertwined to bring about the status of these people as suffering in their place of work, and neglected as the narrator portrays. As social constructionists explain, the social practices have to be part of a process that has been inherent in resulting to the above situation as explained by the workers (Abram 2002, 75-6). The maxim social classes and contrasts among the people in the book by Ehnrenreich (2001, 6) is evident as the narrator explains that she is very different from the rest who normally fill America’s least attractive jobs. The narrator boasts that they have accumulated enough wealth in their lives and cannot afford the insurance covers, the IRA, bank accounts, a multi room home and there was no way they would experience poverty. Contrast this with the narrator who explains that “my sister has been though one low paid job after another-phone company job business rep, factory worker receptionist….. My husband a companion of seventeen years was a $ 4.50 an hour warehouse worker when I fell for him.” ( Ehnrenreich 2001, 2). In addition, another narrator explains that “I have a ph. D degree in biology and did not get it by sitting down………” Ehnrenreich (2001, 3). Clearly the above case portrays mistreatment and misuse of workers, a situation that is being addressed by the critical theory, and the effects it has on these people. Cunliffe (2009, 30) explains that in 1923, Weber talked critically about rational –legal authority as the essential idle form of an organization-bureaucracy. ` The early motivation approaches to motivation were mainly based on the rational economic man who was considered as a rational and informed individual who is able to make decisions and choices based on the costs or benefits of each course of action, and are largely motivated by money (Hall et al 2004, 625). It is this argument by Weber that has made the society to be against the rational instinct of humanity that would enhance fair treatment, fair wages and equal opportunities in the society as the Nickel and dimed by Ehnrenreich portrays. The logic and humanity that would be expected from employers to treat their employees in society as was advocated under maxims has been replaced by the thirst for money, where man is observed as an object that is motivated by money. However, as socialism involves the creation of narratives in the mind of individuals that make people to better explain whom they are according to their circumstances; this makes the lowly paid workers to accept their situations and to view themselves as being incapable of rising the mobility ladder. This case is similar to the one defined by Metzgar as he explains that, “my father was not the man, being without work for a long time. the worst part was that he didn’t and could not just say no- that even in refusing the foreman’s request he couldn’t stand up to him, and couldn’t maintain his dignity” (Metzgar 2000, 34). This is similar to the narrator who explains that she is the most commonly girl. This mental image in socialism therefore means that though the low paying jobs and the meager wages that the workers are exposed to, they create mental narratives that make them to view themselves as being lowly, and not like other beings. The poverty and frustration among the people leads many girls to prostitution as Ehnrenreich (2001, 41) argues that “there are two dirty smudged lesbians just off their construction shift who are impressed enough by may suave…..” in addition, the issue of corruption sets in as the narrator explains “some restaurants granted the workers permission to add a tip to the bill since the amount is added before the customers as a view on the bill” (Ehnrenreich 2001, 41). Social problems are not distinctive and inherent in moral confines as would be required. These are just definition and orientations to putative situations and that are argued to be inherently immoral of unjust (Miller 2005, 6). The above argument would mean that the above cases as highlighted add up to be cases of social constructionism as they are not just and are immoral. In addition, the situations under which the social problems are constructed are both intentionally and implicitly rhetorical. Therefore, the public rhetoric and the politics of claims analyzed in various situations in myriad circumstances, in which the construction takes place (Spector & Kituse 1987, 79). Therefore, the case of the lesbians and others who are involved in other myriad circumstances such as taking the tips may not be misjudged to be doing wrong, though it is against critical theory as it is a corruption of the society and a degradation of ethics. However, it is the conditions in which the people have found themselves in that have made them to be involved in the myriad circumstances; they try to survive (Doyle 1981, 51). This is in contrast to those such as Marianne and her boyfriend who pay $170 a week for a one person trailer. Compared to jack, he is considered as the wealthiest of the workers as he is paid $10 an hour, and pays about $400 a month fee in the trailer (Folio 1998, 43). This contrast brings about the unjust society and the extent in which the society is divided along class lines with some having too much, with others having too little. This makes the social administrative and professional category of personhood to be understood not as fixed objects in a unchanging social world or one with static features but as a status that explains being in a world that is rapidly negotiated- if not always for the position of equality (Raplay 2006, 2). Social constructionism therefore refers to the personal stereotypes that people have in their mind of concerning how they are, and how people view them, which in most cases do not reflect the reality concerning the person. On the other hand the critical theory tries to establish doctrines of humanity, fairness and happiness among individuals who are much oppressed by social, economic or political forces. The book Nickel and Dimed by Ehnrenreich clearly portrays cases of inhuman treatment and exploitation of workers where there is a big divide between the rich and the poor who are also illiterate and with no special skills. The book is therefore a case of social constructionism that has been molded by economic and education inequality in the society. List of references Abrahms et al, 2006. Dignity, respect and the cultures of work. British Sociological Association 20(1): 181–188 Abrams, F. (2002) Below the Breadline: Living on the Minimum Wage. London: Cunliffe, A.L.2009. A very short, fairly interesting and reasonably cheap book about management London: Sage Doyle, A.C. 1981. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Harmondsworth: Ehrenreich B.,2001. Nickel- and Dimed. On not getting by in America. 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