 Tags: class, inequality, minimum wage, poverty, 21 to 60 mins Year: 2005 Length: 44:20 Access: no online access Summary: This is the first episode of Morgan Spurlock's (creator of Supersize Me) show, 30 Days. In this epdisode, Spurlock and his fiancee spend 30 days living on minimum wage. They begin the experience with a week's pay ($178 in 2005 dollars, after taxes) and start looking for an apartment (they find a dilapidated apartment in a bad neighborhood) and jobs. The show covers their experiences on minimum wage, including battling hunger, navigating the unreliable bus system, issues of neighborhood safety, the physical and emotional stresses of minimum wage work, difficult budgeting decisions, dealing with no health insurance, the hidden costs of poverty (e.g. paying deposits not charged to others), and challenges finding affordable activities for kids and family. Throughout the video, it also briefly explores the structural conditions shaping these experiences: the meaning behind the minimum wage, debates around increasing the minimum wage, programs for the working poor, and the relationship between family structure and poverty. When using this in class, you may note that the minimum wage has increased since the filming of this video. Submitted By: Paul Dean
5 Comments
Paul Dean
2/11/2011 09:54:06 pm
While the minimum wage has increased since the filming of this video, these increases have not kept pace with inflation and the cost of living. The Economic Policy Institute offers a variety of resources on minimum wage, including updated facts, FAQs, and graphs and charts. Information may be found here: http://epi.3cdn.net/1010456170680f8fc7_lem6b99v9.pdf. 6/20/2013 07:49:35 pm
"Can you at least pay me what I got thirty years ago?" This was a sad comment by one of the day workers in the video that probably represent the plight of a lot of occupations in the U.S. today. Another critical point was that no matter how hard you work, an accident or medical bill can break you financially. You don't have to be getting minimum wage for this to happen. For newslinks related to financial problems, also see http://www.moneyspork.com
Lindsay Hamm
10/20/2017 08:27:33 am
You can find the link on youtube right now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmSGEGOVI34 5/21/2022 04:24:34 am
The minimum wage in different countries must be based on the real economic situation in the region. In different areas, the average wage of $18.92 per hour can be considered high or not so high.
Melissa
9/12/2022 07:36:33 pm
So employers should raise what they pay entry level positions because adults raising a family are expecting to live on it? Kids should be working these while they live at home or go to college. Which by the way most minimum wage workers are. If you don't like minimum wage get a higher paying position. If you don't even have the inclination or aspiration to do something better for yourself or your family how can you expect to be paid more for your position? I started at minimum wage LIKE everyone but I didn't stay there expecting to get paid higher wages for a teenagers job. Employers should pay whatever they believe you are valued at. If you think you are more valuable work to prove it or find a different job. Minimum wage isn't the problem it's our appeasing the whining lazy class. Work and wages are a privilege. If minimum wage increases they have to raise wages for other positions then rent goes up and costs increase. Leave a Reply. |
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