The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-07-21
LABOR VS.. DIGNITY.


"The dignity of womanhood," as af-
fected by labor, is favorite theme with |
many whom custom has long taught to
regard any work for which pecuniary
is received as in some
mysterious way compromising to the
dignity or respectability of woman. So
long as a woman works in her own
home, no matter how menial her en-
her labor is not regarded as
degrading or in any manner as a COM
promise with her dignity or refinement.
She may do whatever inclination
prompts or necessity enforces,' from
broiling the beefsteak for breakfast to
cleaning the spittoon; from patching di-
lapidated trowsers and renOvating
soiled linen to making puddings for
dinner and cake for tea, and never a
word is said about the unwomanly ef-
fects of labor. But when she comes to
do any of these things for pdy-"aye,
there's the rub" While it is an honor
for man to be well paid for labor, it is
considered by this class of dignity
shriekers" to be quite the reverse for
women to be remunerated at all. A
woman may perform any work neces-
sary, for love or for pity, and she is ap-
plauded therefor; and the more menial
the labor the more credit she receives
for its accomplishment. But let the
question of money enter into the ac-
count, and she shrinks back offended.
The sense of the possible social effect
that the knowledge of her having re-
ceived wages may have upon the worker
is little short of terrifying. A woman
who goes, accompanied by honor, to a
hospital as volunteer charity nurse,
draws back when she is offered wages in
the sick-room of a neighbor. No mat
ter how great the need for her skill; no
matter how great her pecuniary neces-
stiles, she is afraid of losing caste if she
draws wages as a nurse.
We have often heard remarks made
by parents-both fathers and mothers
similar to these: AZ let Mary go to help
Mrs. A. because she needed her assist
ance; but 1 won't allow my girls tC
work out They may do friendly turn
for a neighbor, but they cannot work
for wages"
And this, perhaps, when "Mary'' was
signing for some article of apparel
which father declared she did not need
and mother assured dher-convincing ar.
gument-that she had never possessed
Girls who would think it an honor
rather than discredit to be found run
ming the sewing machine upon gar
ments for the making of which they re-
ceive nothing, will, if they are forced e
90 out to sew, resort sometimes to The
pitiful subterfuge of carrying an armfu
of books to and from their labor, tina
acquaintance may think they are at
tending school instead Of workshop.
young lady will sew on buttons, anC
sew up rips in gloves or vest, for a gen
tleman willingly, if not proudly, wheI
her pay consists in a smile or 'thanI
you;" but ask her to take charge of hi
wardrobe for a certain stipend, ant
dignity" will Immediately take tn
alarm. So it is in all things. Work 70
women is only considered degrading
when a salary accompanies it.
We know that there is a great dea
said about "womanly occupations,
feminine and unfeminine business,
etc., but we assert that a business tha
is honorable for man is equally so 70
woman. 1t does not follow that ever
occupation is suitable for a woman
that is a separate consideration, and on
: which each woman laborer can best de
eide for herself; but an occupation is nc
lowered because a woman engages in i
: nor the woman lowered because sh
, pursues it.
: The real question is not the dignity {
t labor, but of payment. When woma
= learns that laborer is worthy of h'
t hire, she will not so often and so Ion
8 vacillate between genteel starvatiO
: and open honest work; between crini
S ing, fawning dependence and honest il
d dependence.