Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive

I finished Maid: Hard Work, Low pay and a mothers will to survive by Stephanie Land and here are my thoughts.


When Stephanie left her abusive relationship with the father of her little girl, she had no money and nowhere to go.

Stephanie's story is one that happens to so many women. When they leave a relationship, especially with a child(ren), they often haven't been working and have no access to money.

The unfortunate reality is the system is broken and Stephanie tells a compelling story of perseverance and living in a world where the help is seen as being less than everyone else. The realities of working for minimum wage and trying to care for a child in a world not built for women to do much outside of the home comes across loud and clear in this epic memoir.

I could relate to Stephanie. I was that mother fleeing abuse with no job, no money and a dangerous ex. Getting financial assistance isn't even enough to cover rent here in Alberta let alone the cost of food, schooling for kids and bills. It is not an easy path trying to become independent when your skills are now out of date (my situation) or like Stephanie's where she hadn't yet really started her life and had no way of going to school full time to get herself in a better position for pay. Problem there is that student debt is a killer all on its own.

I thought the writing was really well done and I enjoyed the book in one sitting. Stephanie did an excellent job of portraying how she felt having to use food stamps and what kind of upheavals can happen when changes are made that are not for the betterment of the people who have to use them. It also shows a lot of misconceptions about poor people. Just because they need assistance, doesn't mean they won't pay their bills or that they will trash the homes they rent. There are bad eggs but most just want a safe place to stay and work their fingers to the bone to provide.

I can see why this book was so popular and I am really pleased I finally had the chance to read it.

4 stars!

I got this one from the library so thank you haha!!

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