In Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich delves into the `third world' of America while attempting to make a living. She undertakes many noble trades, working in low wage and underappreciated jobs while of trying to figure out how the people of this country do it everyday. She works at Hearthside and Jerry's in Florida waitressing, with The Maids in Maine cleaning houses, and with Wal-Mart in Minnesota, serving their `guests', all while earning the minimum wage. She also looks to examine the functional and conflict theories of stratification as they relate to the low wage jobs she pursues.

Two very different ideas are presented in the hierarchy of humanity. These are the theories of stratification. The first is the functionalist theory of stratification. This theory holds that, according to Emile Durkheim, ."..inequalities are good for society..." . Certain people are designed and trained to perform certain jobs, and only...