--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought I was making fifty dollars a…" description: "\"I thought I was making fifty dollars a week [at MGM], but it turned out to be $35 because twelve weeks of the year you were on layoff. It was white sla..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/ava-gardner-8168_dollars_i-thought-i-was-making-fifty-dollars-a-w_1708208.jpg" --- # I thought I was making fifty dollars a week \[at MGM\], but… ![“I thought I was making fifty dollars a week [at MGM], but it turned out to be $35 because twelve weeks of the year you were on layoff. It was white slavery, and it lasted for seventeen years.” quote by Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/ava-gardner-8168_dollars_i-thought-i-was-making-fifty-dollars-a-w_1708208.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/ava-gardner-8168_dollars_i-thought-i-was-making-fifty-dollars-a-w_1708208.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/ava-gardner-8168_dollars_i-thought-i-was-making-fifty-dollars-a-w_1708208.jpg) > “I thought I was making fifty dollars a week \[at MGM\], but it turned out to be $35 because twelve weeks of the year you were on layoff. It was white slavery, and it lasted for seventeen years.” [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She describes long-term exploitation and low wages as a form of modern slavery lasting many years. **In simple terms:** She felt exploited and underpaid for many years. Key Takeaway Recognize and resist exploitative work conditions. Themes exploitation labor rights economic injustice Mood frustrated angry Type personal testimony social critique When to use this quote - film industry jobs - gig economy - low wage work - union organizing Key Concepts wage theft systemic oppression long term abuse Questions to Reflect On - How do you identify exploitative labor? - What steps can protect workers? A Different Perspective The anecdote may exaggerate personal experience; broader systemic data needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Layoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/layoff/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [Like slaves on the sugar plantations of the Antilles, ...the sugar slaves of southern Louisiana had negative birthrates for as long as slavery lasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-sublette/like-slaves-on-the-sugar-plantations-of-the-antilles-the-sugar-slaves/) [Ned Sublette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-sublette/) > [“Just dinner,” Ben said. “And not some kind of perverted thing where I clock you on the head when your back is turned and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruthie-knox/just-dinner-ben-said-and-not-some-kind-of-perverted-thing-where-i/) [Ruthie Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruthie-knox/) > [Obviously it's one of my biggest wins, and especially after a long layoff, to come back out and win in my fifth start means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-johnson/obviously-it-s-one-of-my-biggest-wins-and-especially-after-a-long/) [Dustin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-johnson/) > [So all of these companies that are going for the big growth, if it continues for any length of time, will outlast their resources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvon-chouinard/so-all-of-these-companies-that-are-going-for-the-big-growth-if-it/) [Yvon Chouinard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvon-chouinard/) > [There's ups and downs with boxing, layoffs are part of the sport and they can either help or hurt a guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/there-s-ups-and-downs-with-boxing-layoffs-are-part-of-the-sport-and/) [Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/) > [Utilities used deregulation to effect a series of mergers limiting competition. In order to accelerate profits, cost cutting ensued, involving the layoff of thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/utilities-used-deregulation-to-effect-a-series-of-mergers-limiting/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) > [I retired and came back in '97. Woo! I mean, come on! I don't know, man. A six-year layoff? That was crazy! My career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-retired-and-came-back-in-97-woo-i-mean-come-on-i-don-t-know-man-a/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [The company calls it 'downsizing' or 'rightsizing.' My own informal "Name the Layoff" contest produced some other euphemisms: Retroactive Hiring Freeze, Resume Revision Days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-dauten/the-company-calls-it-downsizing-or-rightsizing-my-own-informal-name/) [Dale Dauten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-dauten/) > [Globalization has created this interlocking fragility. At no time in the history of the universe has the cancellation of a Christmas order in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/globalization-has-created-this-interlocking-fragility-at-no-time-in/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [I watch too much cable, I admit. Day after day it gets frustrating. Yesterday I watched as someone called legislation to prevent teacher layoffs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gibbs/i-watch-too-much-cable-i-admit-day-after-day-it-gets-frustrating/) [Robert Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gibbs/) > [If you have to conduct layoffs, which is always a regrettable thing, there's kind of three things that are very important. One is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/if-you-have-to-conduct-layoffs-which-is-always-a-regrettable-thing/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [“This means troubleshooting problems when they come in, and put in long-term fixes. In other words, don’t just survive the layoff, analyze and figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-marshall/this-means-troubleshooting-problems-when-they-come-in-and-put-in-long/) [Sebastian Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-marshall/) > [But I don't want massive layoffs of anyone - public or private. We are planning on shrinking government through attrition and reform, not through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-walker/but-i-don-t-want-massive-layoffs-of-anyone-public-or-private-we-are/) [Scott Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-walker/) > [If we don't change, millions of American families are just one medical emergency, or one layoff, away from financial disaster and bankruptcy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/if-we-don-t-change-millions-of-american-families-are-just-one-medical/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [Grandfather / advised me: / Learn a trade / I learned / to sit at desk / and condense / No layoff / from this / condensery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorine-niedecker/grandfather-advised-me-learn-a-trade-i-learned-to-sit-at-desk-and/) [Lorine Niedecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorine-niedecker/) ## More by Ava Gardner > [It's a shame that it didn't work out with Mick. I was hopelessly in love with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/it-s-a-shame-that-it-didn-t-work-out-with-mick-i-was-hopelessly-in/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“Then, aided by the booze, like a fool I tossed off one of those throwaway lines that would have been better thrown away. "Ah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/then-aided-by-the-booze-like-a-fool-i-tossed-off-one-of-those/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“Great idea," I said. "Call the police. Call the fucking police.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/great-idea-i-said-call-the-police-call-the-fucking-police/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I was born with good health and a strong body and spent years abusing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-was-born-with-good-health-and-a-strong-body-and-spent-years-abusing/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Elizabeth Taylor is not beautiful, she is pretty—I was beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/elizabeth-taylor-is-not-beautiful-she-is-pretty-i-was-beautiful/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I either write the book or sell the jewels. And I'm kinda sentimental about the jewels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-either-write-the-book-or-sell-the-jewels-and-i-m-kinda-sentimental/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Mickey - the smallest husband I ever had and the biggest mistake I ever made - well, that year, it was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/mickey-the-smallest-husband-i-ever-had-and-the-biggest-mistake-i-ever/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [God knows I've got so many frailties myself, I ought to be able to understand and forgive them in others. But I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/god-knows-i-ve-got-so-many-frailties-myself-i-ought-to-be-able-to/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Our phone bills were astronomical, and when I found the letters Frank wrote me the other day, the total could fill a suitcase. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/our-phone-bills-were-astronomical-and-when-i-found-the-letters-frank/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Maybe, in the final analysis, they saw me as something I wasn't and I tried to turn them into something they could never be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/maybe-in-the-final-analysis-they-saw-me-as-something-i-wasn-t-and-i/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [After my screen test, the director clapped his hands gleefully and yelled: “She can't talk! She can't act! She's sensational!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/after-my-screen-test-the-director-clapped-his-hands-gleefully-and/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Don't think for a minute that bad publicity and endless criticism don't leave their claw marks on everyone concerned. Your friends try to cheer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/don-t-think-for-a-minute-that-bad-publicity-and-endless-criticism-don/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I'm not saying my own looks don't give the game away. Nothing I can do about that anymore. A nip and tuck ain't gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-m-not-saying-my-own-looks-don-t-give-the-game-away-nothing-i-can-do/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I do owe Mickey one thing: he taught me how much I enjoyed sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-do-owe-mickey-one-thing-he-taught-me-how-much-i-enjoyed-sex/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“In one scene, when I was supposed to say, "In a pig's eye you are," what came out was, "In a pig's ass you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/in-one-scene-when-i-was-supposed-to-say-in-a-pig-s-eye-you-are-what/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) [Explore all 83 Ava Gardner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) ## More Dollars quotes > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. Instead of spending a dollar to help feed hungry children, why not spend that dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-greatest-charity-you-can-contribute-to-is-yourself-instead-of/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Some day I'll write a book and call it 'How I Got the Nickname Pumpsie' and sell it for one dollar, and if everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pumpsie-green/some-day-i-ll-write-a-book-and-call-it-how-i-got-the-nickname-pumpsie/) Pumpsie Green > [I'm part of a team that raises millions of dollars and raises awareness of HIV and AIDS all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/i-m-part-of-a-team-that-raises-millions-of-dollars-and-raises/) [Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [Right now, the government is spending billions of dollars supporting the problem-makers in the U.S. economy - the polluters, despoilers, incarcerators, and warmongers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/right-now-the-government-is-spending-billions-of-dollars-supporting/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [In short, both experience and economic theory imply that the US could now t to a more competitive dollar without experiencing either increased inflation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/in-short-both-experience-and-economic-theory-imply-that-the-us-could/) [Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/) > [I think we need to talk about mental illness a lot more. People complain about tax dollars and say we don't have the money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-think-we-need-to-talk-about-mental-illness-a-lot-more-people/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [A man with a million dollars can be as happy nowadays as though he were rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-mcallister/a-man-with-a-million-dollars-can-be-as-happy-nowadays-as-though-he/) Ward McAllister > [Here we were talking about economic development, about investing billions of dollars in various programs, and I could see it wasn't billions of dollars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/here-we-were-talking-about-economic-development-about-investing/) [Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/) > [I used to sit in front of McDonald's and ask people for dollars to get me a cheeseburger. It was bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-pain/i-used-to-sit-in-front-of-mcdonald-s-and-ask-people-for-dollars-to/) [T-Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-pain/) [Browse all 2,882 Dollars quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought I was making fifty dollars a week [at MGM], but it turned out to be $35 because twelve weeks of the year you were on layoff. 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