Serving in Florida

Serving in Florida

The subject under discussion in “Serving in Florida” is the inequality of working at a minimum wage job and having to pay the price for this servitude in terms of health deterioration, emotional unhappiness, and economic deprivation. The claim in my eyes is clear: it is inhuman and should not have to be endured by anyone sane. By implication, this has become an intractable social problem, one that has touched nearly everyone at some point. Taking the moral high ground is always risky because there is nothing that we can criticize or point out in another that we have not thought or said ourselves. This is the point at which textual analysis becomes subjectively psychological. But even a resonance of silence concerning struggling waitresses and other low wage earners would not fail to point to a system that is the product of corruption and greed which permeates our society and there is no cure in near sight. Sadly, students in need of money often do not have much choice.

Working conditions for the unskilled have not changed importantly since the nineteenth century, with the worker chained to a time clock and understanding of human productivity is still quite dim. Political and economic disagreement is rooted in oppression and the need to oppress. The workplace has become a power struggle and an ongoing nightmare, and I can empathize, having had first-hand experience. I have known many wage tyrants. As Ehrenreich writes, “There are no secret economies that nourish the poor; on the contrary, only a host of secret costs.” This line of work, “devoid of benefits,” and the neglecting parent of so much hardship allows for a higher degree of empathy and has led me in the direction of the life of a narcotized robot but still never devoid of empathy. The author’s rhetorical style lends itself to an increased understanding of the deplorable conditions of waitressing.

Her tone is one of resignation in the name of necessity, and all debts are paid with the currency of human misery. In comparison with others, she is one short step ahead of those living in an impala, eating ‘gut-puckering jalapenos.’

My own experiences as a server could not be in more agreement. The author’s descriptions of the economic malaise created by the minimum wage payer to the earner give life to my own experiences, both in practice and philosophy. She does not offer a more hopeful perspective, but her writing does create a mood and positive energy that mocks purpose. One can relate to an elementary level. The author carries her argument past complaining in the direction of solutions, but her options are limited. How many directions can this go? Talk of reform is relegated to mere talking points that end up down a rabbit hole. It is difficult to focus on solutions when one is too busy surviving. My own experience as a server attests to this. When you wait on tables, you are subject to every manner of rudeness and abuse. Sexual innuendo is the least of it. Ehrenreich’s exploration of the problem reasonably summarizes and corroborates my own experience at the pizzeria Carmen’s in Evanston. The methodology she adopts is the use of example and sarcastic anecdote to underscore a pervasive and continuing social disease, given the fact that the minimum wage level has not changed in the last ten years.

In terms of personal economics, it is like shifting between ‘infected’ and ‘contagious.’ I mainly relied on tips, and that is a harrowing way to have to live. Part of my method of protecting my emotions was to pretend often not to hear what was being said, especially if it was trivial or cruelly intended banter, and by the end of the night’s shift, it was all I could do to stop myself from collapsing from exhaustion and worry.

My pocket would not allow me to have the best out of my choice. With the few pennies in my pockets collected from those with a human heart, I had to make a decision. Whether to use it for bus fare or use it on food, sometimes I would make the wrong decision and spend the amount on narcotics in an attempt to run away from the reality and ensure I move on with the unbearable job. I had no choice in this failing to continuing would mean complete immersion even in harder situations than I ever thought.

Every sphere in my life was affected, ranging from my emotional well-being, spiritual, economic, and finally, my social life. I viewed human beings as cruel beings who never thought of their fellow beings. As the hardships continued increasing, I developed a sense of cruelty to human beings. Similar to the type exhibited by those who live in the juggle. I remember it was on a Friday as I was coming from my workplace. I decided to take a walk down home that day I was never lucky to receive some pennies.

It was in a bush where I had the voice similar to that one of a puppy, on getting closer I found it was a baby wrapped in white clothing. The baby coiled in the coldness of the morning; I could not resist the beauty in its eyes and choose to pick it to my place. Due to its cry, I found myself using, my cash on getting some milk. Later in the evening, I found myself in children home seeking help for the kid. Human feelings were returning in my inner being. This was my transformational story, as I could not leave the baby and ended up taking care of even more babies. The charity organization ended up employing me as workers in their midst, receiving “good” pay. Since then, my life has never been the same again.