The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-18
WOMEN At WORK.
What the Recent Census Shows as to
Her Conquest Of Fields of occupa-
ton Once Monopolized by Man.

III 1900 according to the census o.
| that year. there were 29,2S5,922 persons
in the United States engaged in gainfu
| occupation That was over two-fifth;
! of the total population of the country
or more than half the population over
ten years OF age.
or the number given above 5,3lo, ,91.
We're females. OF the total female por-
ilatlon of tho country, 14.3 per cent. Is
employed in remunerative occupations
or 1SS per cent, OF all females over ten
years OF age.
The fields of activity invaded by
women are almost as numerous as
those occupied by men. In 1900 nearly
1,O0U,000 women We're classed as en-
gagged in agricultural pursuits and pro-
fessional service; 1,315,s90 were in me-
chanical and manufacturing pursuits;
half million in trade and transporta-
tion, and about 100000 in domestic
service.
Trades Involved.
There are women farmers, planters,
overseers, garden and nursery laborels,
florists, fruit growers, milk dealers,
wood choppers. "lumbermen" and
"raftsmen." There are women
"draughtsynen," architects. engineers,
and surveyors, electricians, chemists,
Journalists. physicians, surgeons, vet
erirary surgeons, teachers and profess
sors in colleges. There ara women
bankers. stock brokers, boil keepers,
clerks, copy!sts, mailcarriers and com
mercial travellers. There are women
hack CriN ers, teamsters, "fUrentn'' in
livery s:as les, hostlers, hucksCtrs ard
pcda!ers. There are women merchants.
packers shippers and porters. There
are wolnen steamftters ana roo;ers.
There are women brick and tile makers,
OF! we'll en.rloyes, marble AMI stone cut
te"s, car'!ioge makers and pDtters.
Th@ra are women miners, FISH herrlt:."
ard "qlarrymen." There are women
milleis, Ireat and fruit packers, can
ners and sugar makers. There are
women biacksmiths, iron and steel
workers, n'achinists, stove and crate
makers. Wheelwrights and wire work.
ers. There are thousands of women
making and repairing shoes. Hundreds
are tanners and harness and saddle
makers There are women in the luna-
Der trade, in the furniture and piano
factories, in watch factories in engrav-
ing establishments, in cotton, silk and
Wnolen mills. There are women engin-
eers and fremen, and women in hun
dreds of clher occupations.
Housekeeping Declining.
Those OF cur readers interested in the
domestic problem will see one reason
for their trouble in the fact that where
as in 1880 42.6 per cent. of women en-
n II
gagged in PERSONAL and domestic Service,
II 1900 the number had fallen to 39.4
per cent. Factories, stores, offices,
shops studios. even the forests and the
mines had been invaded by these COM
Tetttors for mems places at lower wages
tEan the latter had been receiving.
Whether this invasion has been a
blessing or curse to both the women
and the men is a problem over which
many are now pondering. Its imme-
diate effects. so far as the men are con-
have been the lowering of
wages and the displacement of many
from occupations to which they had
been trained. That 1t has also had per-
n!cious effects upon the manners, If not
upon the characters, Of many Of the |
women of the country is indisputable. |
There are some who profess to be in |
owe with the new manners of the new
-iTe. But many would willingly dis
Jcnse with them in favor of the modest |
si:llshness and the gentler womanIiness |
If an earlier day. OF this we may be |
sure: we are in no danger at present |
IF too much femininity in the life of |
,ur time. Femininity cannot we'll sur
1--WE constant contact with many of the |
named above.