The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-06-17
Already Decided.

DR.. EMILY BLACKWELL contributes to the
July number Of the Popular Science Monthly
o discussion OF "The Industrial Position
OF Women" She undertakes to answer the
question, Is tho effort women are making
TO enter occupations from which they have
hitherto been excluded justinablo p
Such discussion would have been peril
nent a quarter OF century ago, ten years ago.
perhaps, but now 1t seems to us hardly worth
whilo The question Dr. EMILY BLACKWELL
raises has been practically decided In favor
OF women. They are already taking part In
"the great system OF modern industry" and
tho part they are performing is an impor-
tant one, and is steadily increasing In I'M
portance, few barriers being set up to their
employment in any occupation they arc dis
posed to enter. The obstacles to their work.
ing have boon raised chiefly by themselves.
by tho prejudiccs Of women. and they are
fast being removed. Wherever women's
labor can DO made profitable, men are ready
enough to employ it and to encourage it.
Large departments OF manufacture, espe-
cialIy, depend largely. II not chiefly, on the
work OF women.
The census Of 1880 showed that OF the $751;
ST persons engaged in all sorts OF industrial
occupation in New York 1928 were women
and girls. Women were then taking part in
nearly every profession and every trade
not requiring rough physical labor and ex-
posture, TO which they arc manifestly not
adapted; for instance, the trade OF the
blacksmith and the stonemason. 1t is now
expected, as q matter OF course. that the
daughters Of family in poor or very mod
crate circumstances shall go to work as soon
as their schooling Is done or they are old
enough to earn wages Nor do they gener-
ally or even frequently seek domestic SER
vice, II they are natives Of this country.
They prefer work in shops or factories, any
where else than in family.
The demand for womcn's labor In the in
dustrial employments Is now so great that
girls have about as good chance Of getting
paid occupations as boys; and they can earn
wages in many cases which are often equal
to those obtained by their brothers. The
consequence Is that family In which there
are grown children. or children old enough
to work, can jointly make very comfortable
living when times are good; and they expect
to do it. all hands contributing.
Tho girls OF families in better circumstance
es, too, ore now far less likely than formerly
to be dependent on their parents. Tho old
prejudices against their working and making
something for thoir support have already
very largely disappeared. Even among the
well to do, girls are moro and more inclined
to seek remunerative employment; and the
multiplication Of apartment houses. perhaps
with common kitchens, Is releasing the
women OF many families from domestic cares
and details which used to occupy SO much of
the time OF housewives thus giving them
liberty to engage in outside work.
The questions discussed by DR.. EMILY
BLACKWELL as to the advantages and pro-
priety OF women's working and earning
money In industrial pursuits, or in other
occupations than those which arc strictly
domestic, have therefore already been de-
cided in the affirmative. 1t has come to be
pretty generally recognized that it is just
about as necessary to teach n girl how to
earn her living as boy. And tho lesson is
every day more thoroughly learned in oil
marta of SOcicty