I was twelve years old when I landed my first job. It was at a restaurant kitty-cornered from my home, where I swept and mopped the floor after school. I use the term restaurant loosely, as it was just a small, family owned and operated café. Since the job was close to home, and the owners were willing to hire me, an untrained, but enthusiastic twelve-year-old, keeping the job was easy. All I had to do was show up every day and do my work. Scholastics' Dictionary of American English defines work as, "A thing done, made, or obtained by labor." I soon learned that work, besides being a thing done, could also be extremely difficult. For my labor, they paid me the kingly sum of $1.30 per hour with payday being every day in cash. To an adult, the pay was a mere pittance, but to a twelve-year-old boy, it was a fortune.
Barbara Ehrenreich by David Shankbone, New York Ci...
Barbara Ehrenreich 2 by David Shankbone, New York ...
United StatesI was motivated to work and earn money by my many desires: worldly explorations, social involvements, and material things. My earnings would also allow me to gain some independence and experience in making decisions, whether good or bad, on that which I spent my money. I did not realize at twelve years old, but work would also come to mean stability.
My parents could not afford to give me an allowance, but they encouraged me to work and earn my own money. As a preteen, the world begged for my exploration and involvement. I knew that before I could explore or become involved, I must earn money by working. My wages would allow me to do other things that, to me, were more important than work. Things such as impressing young women, going to the movies, and fixing-up my bicycle became my major priorities. Once I...