Topics for Further Study
- Compare Nickel and Dimed with another notable piece of investigative journalism where the author immerses themselves in the lives of a marginalized group, like Jack London's The People of the Abyss or John Howard Griffin's Black Like Me. Evaluate how Ehrenreich measures up in her dedication to uncovering truth. What steps do these investigators take to integrate into the communities they study? How does taking on these roles alter each author's perception of society? In what ways do these experiences reshape their sense of self and identity? Write a three-page report analyzing the similarities and differences between these two works.
- Research the evolution of welfare in the United States, starting from President Roosevelt's Social Security Act of 1935 through the reforms of 1996 and into the present day. Identify the major milestones in this timeline. What changes have occurred, and what factors drove these changes? What assumptions about welfare seem to underpin each phase of its history? Based on your findings, what do you foresee for the future of welfare in America? What role can welfare play in our society, and what role should it play? Develop a comprehensive timeline that highlights these key events, and also captures the social assumptions and political issues that influenced them.
- Examine how minimum-wage workers are represented in today's media. Look at a broad spectrum of portrayals, from news outlets to films, music, and video games. Are there any recurring themes related to race, gender, or job situations? Are there specific characteristics attributed to minimum-wage workers that distinguish them from others? In which communities or environments are they depicted, and if a particular example has a narrative, what role do they play in the story? Prepare a five-minute presentation on two specific portrayals, incorporating visual aids and, if useful, brief plot summaries.
- Select a group you are interested in studying by immersing yourself in their environment, similar to Ehrenreich's approach with minimum-wage workers. How would you conduct an investigation of this nature? What aspects of yourself might you need to alter—or conceal—to fully integrate into the group? What strategies would you use to gather information? Compose a one-page investigation plan detailing your preparation steps and outlining what you hope to learn from the investigation.
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