In Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich delves into "third world" America as she attempts to make a living. He takes up many noble professions, working low wages and undervalued jobs while trying to understand how the people of this country do it every day. She works as a waitress at Hearthside and Jerry's in Florida, at The Maids in Maine cleaning houses, and at Wal-Mart in Minnesota, serving their "guests", all while earning minimum wage. It also seeks to examine functional and conflictual theories of stratification in relation to the low-wage jobs it holds. 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 claims that, according to Emile Durkheim, "...inequalities are good for society...". Some people are designed and trained to do certain jobs, and only those people can do them to their fullest ability. The workplace must reward the employee for good work and progress in specialization and training. This will cause the employee to work to their full potential. The second idea, which juxtaposes the first, is the conflict theory of stratification. This theory poses the idea that any form of social stratification creates a small powerful group of individuals and a large group of low-wage working class citizens. This theory also emphasizes that those in power try to maintain it and continue to create further disadvantages for the working class. Conflict theory effectively states that social inequalities are not good for society because they limit the ability of talented workers to realize their potential and utilize it in the workforce. And...... middle of paper......l-Mart, and having completed his assignment, begins the formation of a union with Wal-Mart workers. It convinces many of them that they need to defend themselves or have someone defend them. Ehrenreich believes that with more time she could have created a union and made it work for the employees. Back in the comfort of her home, Ehrenreich reflects on the months that have passed. Jobs in Key West, Maine, and Minnesota helped her form an opinion of the world she had never experienced, seen, or even thought about. He developed compassion for many of his colleagues and even began to truly care for some of them. Eventually, Ehrenreich returns to his life, but takes part of his working life with him, writes an excellent novel that exposes many of the problems of today's job market and silently urges them to be solved..