The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-17
The Growing Independence Of
Women.

One of the most interesting as we'll as
important factors in the labor problem
today is the employment of women in the
various departments of labor once re-
served for men, and the competition of
women with men in the struggle for life.
There were some 100000 persons of
sexes engaged in gainful pursuits of all
sorts in 1890. OF these, about 4 900, 900
we're females. Thsre were, according to
the same census, about 100000 fami.
lies in the United Statss. In 1860 there
were about 100000 workers of both
sexee, and of these one-twentieth, or
100000. we're females. These we're en-
gagged chiefly in clothing factories, cot.
ton mills, and in shoe binding, and they
we're found almost wholly in the New
England States, whose men had gone
away to sea or to the new lands Of the
west. and left their women dependent.
In the west and in the south woman
seldom went away from the home to
work, or. if so, they we're occupied with
household duties in families. After the
civil war the situation was vastly
changed. A million men lost their lives
or were so disabled as to be incapacitat-
ed to support themselves. The south
suffered more than any other section,
and many woman were left self-depend-
emit. 1t was new thing to see white
women in the southern states start out
to seek work in avenues that had been
previously closed to women. They could
not take domestic service, because such
places we're monopolized by the negroes
who had been brought up to that sort of
work. The posts of teaching the young
did not afford places for all who were
forced to work. and thus the white wom-
en- of the south emulated their sisters of
the north and west in seeking the means
of earning a livelihood in every honora-
BILE work within their capacity, and,
however, much the necessity for sucn a
state of things is regretted, it must be
recognized.
1t must be noted, however, that not
side the home is diven to it by reason of
having lost her male protectors and pro-
videre. The simple fact is that the men
OF the present age are rapidly deteriorat-
ing. They will not work, and they de.
mand to be supported by their mothers,
sisters, wives, or other female relatives
The numbers OF such cases are not only
very large, but they are constantly grow
ing. 1t is not only unmanly, but it is
outrageously unjust, for men to com
plain that women are driving them out
of employment. The depreciation of
the male sex is going on at so rapid a
rate that, unless it is checked, the wom-
en- will not only occupy the chief posts
of business, but they will also get pos
session of political control 1t all comes
to this, that if the women are driving
men out of the places they once monop-
olized, it is because the men have de
veloped such weakness as that they
could not hold their own. This, of
course. is not true of all individuals. but
it is of classes. 1t is true as a general
proposition, but is subject to many ex
captions. Probably the most marked
feature in this wonderful development
in industrial economy and social change
is that the women themselves are pass
ing through development that will
modify to an extraordinary degree their
social life and characteristics. Women
are becoming independent OF men. What
then? Social instincts and the demands
of nature will remain, but there will be
radical changes in the social system. 1t
is impossible to foretell what will be the
result of an evolution. 1t can only be
guessed.-Neac Orleans Picoyune.