While exploring the possibility of migrating to California’s Central Valley, Ehrenreich mentions her worry that, “…Latinos might be hogging the crap jobs and substandard housing for themselves, as they so often do”(121). For me, this passage was startling as it denotes yet another instance in which Ehrenreich does not clearly show her intentions. With a such a rash generalization, I first thought this statement was satire. She is thus illuminating the flaws in such generalizations regarding “Latinos” and minimum wage labor. However, Ehrenreich later uses this statement as reasoning for her choice to live in Minnesota, not California. If this is not a satire, why then has she not provided stats to backup such a generalized, potentially hurtful and untrue statement?
2 thoughts on “Nickel and Dimed 96-178”
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I did find the passage also disturbing to read. The tone was condescending and the phrase prior to the quote she writes about her annoyances with working in California such as the heat and pesky allergies.. then the latinos. If this was a form of comedy, it was distasteful.
I also found this passage to be insensitive. However, I wonder if she is perhaps attempting to briefly highlight the problems afflicting the poor in California while also justifying her decision to pursue work in Minnesota. If so, she ought to have backed her statements up with research as Nico pointed out.