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Rachel Yaghar Working Essay

The book Working, by Studs Terkel, contains many transcriptions of interviews conducted with people in the work force. These people discuss what they do to make a living and how they feel about doing it. The people interviewed for this book come from all walks of life. Some of them own and manage their own businesses, while others work for factories or other individuals. Maggie Holmes and Barbara Terwilliger are two people who have been interviewed for this book. As one reads through their interviews, one can clearly see how each of their work experiences have influenced their attitudes and feelings about life and work. Maggie Holmes and Barbara Terwilliger are as different as two people can be. The biggest difference between them is that they are part of very different socio-economic classes. Holmes, who at the time of this interview was living on welfare, used to work cleaning people’s homes. She explains that being an African American domestic is not an easy job by any stretch of the imagination. She would rise early, feed her kids, send them to school, and then ride various subways to get to work. At work she would labor long and hard cleaning and scrubbing other people’s homes. Terwilliger, on the other hand, has a good independent income today. She has worked as an actress, typist, and a sales woman. These jobs are undeniably considered more dignified and respectable in our society than that of a domestic. Terwilliger also does not mention having any kids, and no reference is made to her race. Furthermore, Terwilliger mentions having been in love at different times in her life, while Holmes does not mention having any romantic relationships. This point seems to coincide with their different occupations. Holmes worked long hours both at home and at her job, thereby leaving her with little or no time to socialize. On the other hand, Terwilliger seems to have had jobs and a lifestyle that were less demanding