The concept studied in this ethnography is minimum wage work. Minimum wage is the lowest possible wage (whether that be by the hour, daily or monthly) that an employer is legally allowed to pay his or her employees. Supporters of the establishment of a federal minimum wage believe and promote that this system aids in the reduction of exploitation and also that it guarantees workers the ability to provide for themselves, and any family member, the basic necessities needed for survival (for example food and shelter). However, others argue that the existence of a federal minimum wage adds to an increased unemployment rate among younger people and unskilled workers. Minimum wage work is often characterized as "skilled labor" and includes the completion of unwanted, minuscule tasks. Examples of jobs with government established minimum wage salaries are the front desk workers at college dormitories, fast food workers, a restaurant dishwasher, and a gas station attendant. .
In the United States, the minimum wage has been risen from $0.75 (in 1950) to $5.15 (in 2005); however, despite that increase, the exact value is actually lower because as the minimum wage level has been increased by the federal government, the value of the US dollar has decreased. This loss of value and the significantly high number of people employed at minimum wage are contributing factors to the continuously increasing level of poverty in the US, especially because the small income is not a sufficient salary that would provide people with a substantial lifestyle to live off of. The purpose of this study was to grasp an understanding of what it is like to hold jobs that are not highly desirable and yet only be paid a small salary for the work that is done. Observations for this study were carried out in two different locations; however both were at a McDonald's restaurant. The first location I observed is located on High Street and the second is located in a suburb of Columbus, called Dublin.