"It Is Truly a Struggle to Survive": The Hardships of Living on Low Wages. Issue 3 (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wexler, Sandra; Engel, Rafael J.; Steiner, Elizabeth; Petracchi, Helen
• Is Part Of: Families in society. Volume 101:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 275
• Page End: 288
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: low-wage workers -- hardships -- claims-making -- qualitative research; Social service -- Periodicals; Social case work -- Periodicals; Family social work -- Periodicals; Social service -- United States -- Periodicals; Family social work; Social case work; Social service; United States; Periodicals; 362.82097305
• DOI: 10.1177/1044389420928270
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1044-3894

Abstract

Many low-wage workers struggle to make ends meet despite working full-time. Surveys find that they confront material, financial, and medical hardships. This article presents hospital workers' descriptions of living on low wages, giving voice to their fears and challenges. These workers ( N = 156) testified to a city council-created Wage Review Committee, which posted the testimonies online. We qualitatively content-analyzed the testimonies to identify and describe their struggles. Hospital workers' testimonies brought depth and new understanding to arguments for raising wages. Low-wage workers can be effective advocates for their own interests.