Structure

Maid is divided into three parts, plus a foreword written by Barbara Ehrenreich. Because the foreword was written by a different author, it naturally stands apart from the rest of the book. For this reason, the main structure of Maid is essentially told in a three-act structure, without a prologue or epilogue in the author's own words. The chapters are of roughly equal lengths, with the majority falling just under the 10 page mark.

Part One begins with Stephanie and Mia living in a homeless shelter and follows their trajectory until they move out of Travis' house. As such, the first section is largely about Stephanie figuring out the direction of her new life now that she has broken up with Jamie and is on her own. Living with Travis during this time is significant in the first part of her journey and leaving him signifies a turning...