Working Single Mothers

This site focuses on the struggle working single mothers face. I go into depth providing statisitcs that show single mothers make up a large portion of low wage workers in America. This site includes an interveiw with a young working mother which gives an inside view on the day to day struggle. She offers the emotional side of this issue. Also I talk a little bit about some of the typical jobs single mothers take up. For example waitressing, housecleaning, and working retail. Daycare also is a huge part of my hypertext. I explore some pros and cons on daycare centers in the US. and explain how difficult it is for single mothers to find affordable daycare. Lastly I offer my opinion to solve this social problem. I believe that single mothers that recieve close to around the federal mimimum wage should recieve a small increase in salary than an individual only supporting one person.

http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2_Th/lhoffman_winter07/the%20stuggle.html

Music Education

Today neither a degree nor skilled work is necessarily reflected in salary, most notably in the field of education. Music is particularly notorious for its lack of financial fulfillment due to its neglect by the school board along with other art programs. Rather than studying music education due to their interest in it, many professional musicians are forced into a career of teaching in order to pay the bills that performances could not. Living purely off of music performance would be nearly impossible due to competition and lack of consistency. However, many musicians of the orchestral or educational field enjoy either teaching or playing enough that they continue regardless of economic drought. My site studies the psyche of various musicians based on income as well as music instructors at several levels of education and income.

View the site here.

Giddyup: Low Wage Ranchers

How has the classical cowboy icon of generations passed evolved into a low-wage life inherited by many rural Americans? Present day ranchers fight a fast-changing market to make their product-and their lifestyle-rewarding and sustainable. This hypertext delves into the life of ranchers where hard labor and high risk means everything.

http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2_Th/cwoodhouse_winter07/

Living the Low Wage Life: Animal Control Officers

Animal Control Officers

Living the low wage life; a problem that has become as common to our society as paying bills. While most people limit this term to fastfood work and maidservices, most animal caretakers barely reach the federal poverty line. Animal Control Officers are fortunate enough to make just above this line. But is it worth it, when every day they risk their lives for the animals. Encounters with wild animals, vicious pets, enraged owners, zoonotic diseases, and a host of other problems make one wonder why they do it; when they could be making the same amount to sit behind a desk and file paperwork. After all, some animals, no matter how hard the officers try to save them, just can't adapt in our society. However, no matter how hard it gets, they still come to work every day because they know how rewarding it feels when they can save even one life. So what is a normal day like for an animals control officer? What are the typical trials that they face every day? What are some accomplishments? These are question that need to be answered. Every day animal control serves the public in many ways. From saving neglected or abused animals to trapping rogue possums in your neighborhood, they are always encountering exciting and dangerous tasks. The following web pages are dedicated to these brave souls that teach us to love animals.

http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2_Th/arose_winter07/flashpage2.htm

Disparity @ SCU

My site discusses the people who walk on our campus every day, and the differences between them. I found it really interesting that the amount we pay to attend this university per year is the same amount that many of the workers, especially the janitorial staff, make in the same year--around $30,000. It's not quite done yet, because after today's class discussion I want to go back and examine how we're really not necessarily as different as I had originally thought.

I devoted a whole page (actually 2) of my site to the theme party that happened a couple months ago. I was hesitant in talking about it because I myself recognize that the topic has already been bored into the ground. I chose to put it on the site because I realized that it related more than most would think to my topic, and provided a good example of the divisions between us. I tried to take a different approach, focusing more on class divisions than racial divisions.

What I would really like is for my work on this site to inspire myself and others to make some real changes. That would be the ideal of any of these though, right?

http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2_Th/acollins_winter07/1lowwage/1home.html

Farm Workers

Have you ever thought about how your fruits and vegetable got from the fields to your supermarket? Probably not. Agricultural laborers work hard, as many days out of the year that they can, to pick the fruits and vegetable on our table. They live a hard, stressful life of traveling and moving to where there is work for them. This is a very labor intensive job which usually pays minimum wage. The goal of this website is to inform people about the lives of the hard working immigrants who work vigorously every day. I researched the history of farm workers, interviewed a farmer and farm worker, and put my personal experience with farm workers on this website. I think that people will find this site very informational and useful in their understanding of the life of a farm worker.

http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2_Th/mgallagher_winter07/introtofarmworker.html

Meat Packing Industry

Ever wonder how the meat you get from grocery stores is distributed? Ever wonder how hot dogs are made? Well, once you find out you will wish you never questioned these things in the first place...

Child Garbage Scavengers in the Third World

Many of us cannot even begin to imagine the life that a child garbage scavenger is forced to lead on a daily basis in order to survive. In numerous countries across the globe children are being deprived of proper schooling, health, rights and basic human dignity in order to keep themselves and their families alive. As early as age 10, some children work 5-8 hours per day picking through garbage on a dump site, and many teens then begin working at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning and do not stop until far into the night. Children are faced with countless health hazards and forced to ignore horrific conditions to simply bring home less than 1 U.S. dollar a day. It becomes nearly impossible to balance such a demanding work schedule with a healthy education, and most children choose to drop of school before or around age 12 to work full time.

Scavenging thus not only becomes an occupation to the workers at dump sites, but rather transforms into an entire culture and way of life. Child garbage scavengers are one of the most intolerable forms of child labor and direct violation of children's rights. I chose to research this topic to inform people on the gross injustices being perpetuated within cultures not too far from our home. We all need to open our eyes and see that a very real connection exists between our lives and the gruesome occupation these children call reality. I think it is important that people are informed that such realities exist so that we can all begin taking the necessary steps towards enacting a real change to help solve this problem. It is only then that the world can be given some sense of hope for the future that eradicating child labor is not an insurmountable issue.

http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2_Th/nmorano_winter07/dumpchildren.html

Manicurists: At the Hands and Feet of their Customers

In this website, I discuss the hardships of working as a manicurist. The majority of the people working in the Nail Industry are Vietnamese immigrants, who because of the language barrier, have few job options. They work long days and often seven days a week for extremely low wages. I look into not only the working conditions, but the influence Vietnamese Americans have had on the industry as well as the health risks posed in working at a nail salon. Not only do manicurists have to deal with living a low wage life, but they also have to deal with a low level of respect. They are often mocked in the media for their lack of English and accused by high end salons as having poor cleanliness practices. This site's goal is to bring awareness to this group of underpaid workers who go unnoticed.

http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2_Th/nseber_winter07/home.htm

Under the Golden Arches of McDonald's

This website is dedicated to the servers behind the counter at McDonald's fast food restaurants. It was designed to make public the hardships of those working in this industry. It offers information about the history of the McDonald's corporation, historical cases of battles with Labor unions, their employee training and standardization practices, and also their attempts to make improve life for their workers. I also discuss what constitutes a "living wage" and the wage rates for workers at McDonald's. The site features personal stories and interviews from people who have worked at McDonald's. There are two pages dedicated to the "typical worker"- their skills, tasks, decision making, and their "typical day" behind the counter. Finally, I conclude with a "Now What" page, directing the reader to do something to change the labor practices of the McDonald's Corporation. I decided to create my website about fast food workers, because nearly everyone has come into contact with these people at some time in their life, and since McDonald's is the number one fast food chain in the world, I choose them. I hope this website will share information and provide insight into the tough life of workers at McDonald's. I hope that after looking at this website, people might appreciate the work they do and try to make a difference in improving their lives. The link for this website can be found here: http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2_Th/hmckenzie_winter07/mcdonalds.html

Slaughterhouse Workers

5 am. 40 degrees. Dark and unforgiving.

Meat packing has been a necessary part of the American culture since early colonial times. What started out as a smaller industry, increased dramatically as the amount of people in America flourished. The meat packing industry found its capital in Chicago as thousands of immigrants occupied the surrounding area of the factories and were in desperate need of work. The meat industry took advantage of the immigrants; hence they lay off American workers and hired more immigrants for cheaper pay.

As technology began to change, so did the structure of the meat factories. The amount of animals killed per day increased rapidly with the introduction of the conveyer belt. Therefore, more work was needed in the factories, yet they hired fewer workers. In an environment where workers are already surrounded by hundreds of workers, sharp objects and animal remains, they were only subjected to a higher injury rate as fewer workers were highered. The significant amount of injuries taking place in the factories affects the majority of the workers lives. In many cases they are in need of medical attention and physical therapy.

Workers not only deal with the physical challenges and injuries of working in a factory, but they are confronted with the emotional and psychological damages of killing hundreds of animals each day and being confronted with condescending attitudes from their supervisors. At the end of the day is it worth it?

http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2_Th/bmarkert_winter07/meathome.htm

Vietnamese Nail Technicians

Getting manicures and pedicures is a luxury that many people enjoy on a weekly or monthly basis. Since I was little, I have seen people of all ages at the nail salons while waiting for my Mom to get her nails done. However, I didn't notice that nearly all of the nail technicians in the salons were Vietnamese, and that many did not speak English, until I moved to California. Have you ever wondered why that the industry is structured the way it is? How has the nail industry evolved to such homogeneity? My website was constructed with the intention of bringing attention to the low wages and poor conditions of the technicians in nail salons, and why the industry is so intensely dominated with Vietnamese workers. I also want people to understand the disparities between the nail technicians, and how ethnicity influences the wage of the workers.
The nail industry has grown tremendously in the last few decades, as has the number of licensed manicurists in the United States. The nail industry is appealing to the Vietnamese immigrants (many came to the U.S. because of post war struggles in Vietnam) because many do not speak English, and English is not necessary to be a technician. However, with increasing salons, the price of the nail services have gone down, and therefore the wages as a nail technician are very low. Also, the chemicals used in nail salons pose serious risks to the health of the workers. Many of the workers are not educated about the correct safety procedures and chemicals.

Sweatshops: Are They Worth the Risk?

The word sweatshop brings to mind the horrible conditions of mistreated and helpless women and children who are forced to work in harsh enviornments in order to make a living.Companies spanning all over the globe search for easier, faster and cheaper ways to produce their goods.Because of this growing desire to become more successful, companies are forced to outsource to other countries in order to keep up with the competition in the industry. All methods, of course, are flirting with the law. To play the devil's advocate, some people view sweatshops in a different light . Not only would sweatshops minimize our own poverty, but it would also stimulate other country's economies.

http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2_Th/jkaiser_winter07/hypertext2-introduction.html

Hotel Maids

Arguably the best part about going on vacation is the fact that there is no pressue to do daily chores, like cooking or cleaning. However, most vacationers take advantage of the people who do have to do the daily chores that so many are eagerly attempting to escape. Most vacationers do not know or do not care that it is proper etiquette to tip the maid. This site explores all different aspects of working as a hotel housekeeper from duties, risks, demographics, etc... Also, there are pages that focus on why hotel maids get paid generally less than janitors for the exact same duties or do not get tipped like bellman do for just carrying up luggage. The main purpose of this site to show vacationers what is proper and how much hotel staff need tips. Cleaning is not a chore anyone is ecstatic to do, so I hope that through my site, people will be more considerate of the women (and few men) who have to clean their rooms.

itrs.scu.edu/faculty/BOUSQUET/winter07/ENGL2_Th/mdyrek_winter07/mainmaid.htm

Panhandling: Waiting Patiently For Change

You probably think of them as dirty, lazy, and unemployed but have you ever thought about panhandlers beyond the stereotypes that surround them? In the United States alone there are thousands of Americans who spend their days panhandling to earn just enough money to scrape by. The while the conventional research about them is limited and scattered, this site explains the causes and challenges of both passive and aggressive panhandling, the day in the life of a panhandler, and solutions to help solve this problem.

A Man's Struggle With Hypocrisy: The Untold Tale of the Common Crack Dealer

This site focuses on the common street crack dealer and the challenges he or she faces in his or her daily life. The important thing to consider when approaching a subject about a crack dealer is considering his or her life up unto the point where one decides to choose such a career path. In addition my site focuses on the racial issues surrounding crack dealers and the government’s policy towards drugs. There are several aspects to government policy that shape the future of many crack dealers; for instance, mandatory sentencing and drug control policy.

http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/bousquet/winter07/ENGL2/vhobbs_winter07/drugdealers.html

Nannies in the U.S.

The “traditional” American family originally consisted of a father who worked full time and a mother who stayed at home and cared for the children. While this “traditional” family may have existed 50 years ago, today women are finally getting out of the house and making names for themselves in the corporate world. Women are finally getting the recognition from their male counterparts, but what about the children? Obviously the children can’t care for themselves, so who does it? Day care does not have enough room for the thousands of kids in America, so families opt to hire nannies. My website discusses the hardships that nannies have in the work force and the lack of recognition every day people have of them. The Fair Labor Standards Act has its limitations, nannies can't always protect themselves.I also discuss the effects that nannies, especially immigrants, have on the economy as a whole. Does cheap labor really help? And what happens to the children?

http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2/tholstlaw_winter07/hypertext2index.html

Restaurant Employees

Have you ever taken the time to think about what a person who lives the low wage life feels? Have you ever thought about yourself being in their spot, or even took the time to find out more about the "working poor"? My website provides you with four interviews of people who are immigrants, both illegal and legal, and they talk about their experience in restaurant work. Not a chef, or a person who gets paid well in a restaurant, but the people who usually work in the back washing dishes, or cleaning, and then have to work a second job. Navigate through my site and you will findmore about being a restaurant employee, and will realize how most of the time only the good things are portrayed when you try to research about this topic.
http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2/ssosa_winter07/restaurant%20main.html

Mexican Workers and California's Strawberry Industry

Ever wondered where the fresh and nicely packed strawberries come from? Yes, they came from strawberry fields, but where exactly did they come from? California contribute to 3/4 of the national strawberry output, and the agricultural industry is a big part of California's economy. They have also been the leading producer of strawberries and many other fruits and vegetables for the past decades. But who ARE actually the ones making these strawberries available? They are the low-wage Mexican farm workers. It is because of these Mexican farm workers that we are able to enjoy the easy access to and the availability of the cheap vegetable and fruits. However, poverty, harsh life, and unfair treatment are what they receive in return for their work. In this website, information and facts surrounding the California strawberry industry and its Mexican workers are examined. It then concludes with possible solutions toward the issue.

http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2/pwu_winter07/hypertext2.htm

Mexico's Street Children

Child labor is a recent phenomenon in Mexico, as many children are forced to enter the workforce to either provide an additional income for their family or as a means of survival. These children are working six or seven days a week, for as many as ten hours a day. Working conditions like these do not allow many of these children to attend school, further resulting in the even more difficult challenge of finding a life off of the streets. Sadly, many people do not recognize this struggle that children as young as five years old are going through day in and day out. These children are often stigmatized as delinquents and beggars with no futures. Unfortunately, as there is no way to place the blame for this situation on any single person or event, there is a similar difficulty to finding a single answer to this issue. The diversity of situations faced by these working children makes them a highly complex group which is difficult to cater to in a single, all purpose policy. Nevertheless, I hope that through my website, we are able to place a face on the statistics and clarify common misconceptions about working children.
http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2/ikristoff_winter07/beggarslife.html

A day in the life of the many low wage workers that make possible a day in the life of one me

I used to go from day to day not knowing much about the life of the person that put my jeans together or how many pairs of hands had gone into bringing a chicken dinner to my table. I used this hypertext to deconstruct my daily life into components that would not exist if not for the work of low wage workers. Aspects I investigate include the makers of clothes that I wear, the growers and prepworkers of food that I eat, so on and so forth. For example, the existence of the fried chicken I eat for lunch rests on a poultry worker literally risking livelihood and limb slicing and dicing chickens with sharp knives, contributingo to one of the highestworkplace injure rates in the country. After exploring the impact of low wage workers on my daily life, I finally explore the impact that I have on them; just who holds the responsibility, and what should be down and how to improve their lot in life.
http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2/gleon_winter07/SPLASHHHHHH.html

Human Trafficking

Did you know that after illegal sale of drugs and weapons the most crminal business is Human Trafficking? Human trafficking is forcing and hiring someone to have sex in order to run a business and make money. Some of these women are stolen from different countries and either broughten to the United States or also other parts of the world. Most women do this involuntarly but others have no other choice. It is a problem we are facing in the world today but many people are choosing to ignore it! It even happens in the military where the demand for women to be brought to places of conlifct is high. Our society is partly responsible for this because of the high demand on sex. This is a growing problem that needs to be stopped soon before more women are tricked into it! Home land securities and other services need to help these women get out of their position and start a new life when they are out!

The Low-Wage Life of Wal-Mart Workers

Have you ever shopped at Wal-Mart? Wal-Mart advertises such low prices, but not many of us have wondered why their prices are so low. Wal-Mart can afford to have low prices due to the fact that they pay their employees under $8 dollars an hour. Wal-Mart is one of the largest companies in the world, making more than enough to pay their workers a reasonable amount, but instead they use more money on keeping their prices low and on advertisement. In my paper I discuss the issues of living the low wage life at Wal-Mart, including the lack of health care, the discrimination against women workers, the anti-union practices, and the unfair working conditions. My purpose of this website is to educate the public on the low wage life of a Wal-Mart worker with the intent that it will make people think before supporting them or buying their products. In addition, this applies to many low wage jobs. I think it is important to know where we stand with the issue, and know what our place in society is. It is also important to know the value of money and to know what it is like to live the low wage life and how we may contribute to the issue. My website can be found here:
http://itrs.scu.edu/faculty/Bousquet/winter07/ENGL2/abutterfield_winter07/wal%20mart/walmart.htm