The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-02-10
THE y INK RKING WOMEN us
5 /. .s.5,. i. Il ANDICAP, ss5

5 In a laborer's family uncounsci ously
the man imposes the greater share Of
the burden upon the woman. From
childhood the boy is freer than the:
girl. It Is the little girl who is kept
from school Ito tend the baby, to help
in the housework, to nurse the mother
Later it Is the daughter who Is hrst
called home from the factory or shop
to meet a domestic emergency. II the
family cannot spare her earnings she
rises at dawn to prepare the breakfast
and leave things ship shape, works all
day at the factory, PUSHES home to get
supper and clear up, and then, perhaps
nurses far into the night. Someone
must be sacrificed to the family need.
1t cannot be the father of brother
who are, earning higher wages IL
must be the daughter.
= Not only In cases Of emergency Is
a. working girl taxed: more than her
brother. Custom demands from her
at all times a style OF dress which
meansnendless mending of skirt braids,
trimming Of hats, washing Of shirt
waist and neck ribbons There is al
ways the family claim of housework
and family sewing. 1t is the daughter
who must prepare the refreshments
for the company, must play and sing
little, must visit the relatives on
Sunday; must, in other words bear all
the social brunt. The father and
brother doff their coats and take dog
sedly to their pipes and taciturnity
whenever the mood is on. Sometimes
the poor little new woman Is worn out
with her tussle with man s work, and
would fain sink into mans ways at
home. Public opinion holds her to the
standards Of both the workingman and
the old-fashioned womanly woman. If
the new woman is. a married woman
a mother-there is no end to her tolls
and burdens. Death itself if to be
fought of as an evil temptation.
Besides; the family and social
handicaps, the working woman is at
a disadvantage industrially. To be-
gin with, generally speaking, she is
even yet timid and uncertain in her in
vasion Of what has always been con-
sidered mans sphere; she is not con-
WINGED that she belongs there. She
makes sallies into the field under the
pressure Of necessity and works there
as one who makes shift for the pres
emit. but who will soon be relieved by
! some man or by the grace of God. Her
work, therefore, lacks the plan and
method of a far-seeing laborer; lacks
the strong, steady arm-stroke Of the
! man worker. This carrier to do good
work she herself must remove. How
slow she is to realize herself as an in
dfvidual-her family life, her social
life. as expressions and expansion of
| her individuality. as they should be
with man as we'll and equally! When
will she cease to hang about waiting
Tor man or God to make her fate?
When will she seize upon her life with
her own strength and WELD it with
intelligence and Joy?
Many and great are her other dis
advantages: She is lacking in ! the
physical strength Of man and in indus
trial tratning; tradition and custom
have fixed upon her habit of patience
under all impositions; her trade or
CARNATIONS are as yet far from power
full and we'll guided.
We.5can but admire the fine race
which the working woman is making
| In America in spite Of, her heavy
handicapg Are We TO- sit in our judses'
sou see4ne tHe ooos against her from
start to finish and never raise a pro-
test?
Since women must run in the indus
trial race neck-and-neck with man,
| let her enter 1t with high head and
steady pace and with fair terms BY
all the rules of the races she must be
| as free and embarrassed as man.
Public opinion must back her and
! guard her rights
Let her secure her individual rights
by combining with other women and
| men In. trade unions, and insisting up
! on fair bargain with her employer,
| Let her gain through the trades-union
what man has gained. Public opinion
| will back her and guard her rights in
| America.