davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-03
Equality" for Women AS CoVer Tor
An Attack on Ltving Standards

c1cNIFTCAET events affecting women are
taking place In industry as part Of the whole
campaign OF the employers to lower the living
standards ot the working class.
Under the guise of freedom and political
equality for women" the employers are drawing
Into industry women NOT on an equal basis with
men but in competition against them.
This brings the problem OF uniting the men
and women in common struggle for better
working and living conditions and calls for
special attention to the question OF winning the
women workers into trade union and political
activity against the capitalist class.
Methods of the Bosses.
To illustrate the methods of the employers in
reducing the living standards of the worker by
introducing women into industry in competition
against men let us consider what happened in
metal products factory in Ohio.
The Ohio Corrugated Company.
The factory formerly employed only men.
They were paid by the hour for. their labor.
The wage scale was from 40 to IS cents per hour.
When the employers started to attack the wages
OF the workers in the factory, due to the small
size OF the shop they did not dare to. cut the
wages Of the men directly, but in an organized
and fast manner discharged about - of the men
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-03
International Women's Day 1892
against sweatshop conditions.

against sWeatshop conditions.
Jobless Miseries Grow.
OF the twelve million unemployed workers in
the y. S. over two million are women complete
ly dependent on miserable inadequate charity
relief. Many of those who are still in the fac
tories are working only part TINA Mast work
ing women get half or two-thiSds OF the pay
OF men for the same Jobs. You are in constant
fear Of losing your Job,
Working Tomen-Negro and wlfteI INFERNO
tional Women's Day this year comes at a time
when all the capitalist powers including the
United States, are in grip of terrific economic
crisis, the worst in the history OF the world
Tbs bosses are trying to throw the burden of
this crisis upon the shoulders ct the working
class Today. the irnpsrtalist powers are looking
toward war as the capitalist way out OF the crisis
Soviet Workers Build Socialism
But while there is chaos, unemployment and
misery in the capitalist countries-ore country
the Soviet Union, is building up new society
The first Swear plan is being successfully com;
pleted IN four years: the second 5-Year Plan has
been launched which will completely destroy the
remnants Of capitalism, in the Soviet Union
Unemployment has been abolished: the condl-
uons OF the workers are constantly improving
In all Of the gains of the workers of the So
Wet Union, the women have received the great
%
try in the world where the women are really
free. They share equally with the men in the
building of Socialism The women workers re-
ceiVe the same wages as the men--the slogan OF
equal pay for equal work" has become reality
n the Soviet Union. Women there have tire
same political and economic rights as tie xnsr.
All of these gains OF the women and the entire
working class have been made possibls ony by
the overthrow Of the capitalist system. ard the
establishment Of Soviet Government
The trnperialist powers, headed by the United
states, hate the Soviet because It has shown
The workers how to do away Nth nhgery and
exploitation, because it has proven the super
iority OF Socialist planned economy over capt.
talist
Working vomen War has begun IN the Far
East Terrible crines are being committed
against the Chimes nssses-defenseless women
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-03

During the years l93O-1930 there has been
an increase of two and one-half million women
IN industry as compared with the increase
during 1O1O-192O OF one million.
Total number Of women employed in 1880,
1OO537 1872, or % per cent OF all workers in o. S.
Twenty three million housewives work part
time or do factory work at home; they will be
drawn into industry during war time.
Women predominant in textile, garment, to-
bacco canning, paper box, knitting, etc and are
rapidly taking the place Of men in the basic
industries at one-ha1f to tWo-tlrds less wages,
for the same work.
Exploitation
Wages OF women one-haf to tvo-thirds of
wages of men working in the same line Of work.
Average weekly wage 5or white women in 1880
was $11.
In the South, women earn IS to S. g week.
In Georgia, 80 per cent of the Negro women
and q per cent of the white earn less than $40
q week, and IS per cent OF the Negro women
and 10 per cent of the white women are earn
ing less than IS week
Negro women are exploited even worse than
white women. Over two million Negro women
work in the q. S A, as farm Iaborers, domestic
workers, IN the tobacco factories, textile mills,
laundries, and clothing factories
They work the longest hours do the dirtiest
and heaviest work, under the worst conditions,
and for the Lowest wages the average wage for
Negro working women being S552 a week in
1890.
Ra6onaIization-Wage Cuts,
Women predominant in industries where the
speed-up is most intense.
Wages for women have gone down from 80 to
40 per cent.
Hours have been heightened. IN five states,
there is no law limiting the number of working
hours for women. In other states laws limit
hours from 4S to 70 hours week. Night work
for women exists in two-thirds Of the states and
a vicious women's organization Subsidized by
Mrs. O. H P. Belmont, wife OF one OF Americas
rich mem the Equal Rights organization, is
trying to introduce it everywhere.
Two-thirds Of the states do not require
lunch hour for women, and tl1ree-forths do not
require a rest day.
Unemployment
in the army of twelve million unemployed
over two million are women. Mass dislnissaS
Of married and Negro women,
Many women work IN highly seasonal indus
tries with periodic lay-offs.
Age OF 81 is deadline for hiring women work
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-03

and hired women In the place. The remain
ing 10 of the men were given INSTRUCTORS Jobs"
to teach the women to operate the machines
They thought their Jobs safe and looked upon
the move of the employers as promotion. But
just as soon as the women learned to operate
the machines all the men lost their jobs.
Today the whole factory employing 100 work
ers) is operated by women and the wage scale
has been reduced from IS cents per hour (what
the men received) to 10 to % cents.
The wives Of many Of the men formerly en-
ployed in the factory are now in their husbands
place but bringing home starvation pay-en-
Yelope for the same work
The Metal Workers Industrial League has en-
tered the situation calling on the women to or
gan1ze and demand the former wage scale I'M
der the slogan Of equal pay for equal work."
The Communist Party calls upon the women
workers to demonstrate on International Wo-
mems Day, March 8tI1l
Working women and wives OF workers in the
metal industry! Take part In the economic
struggles of the workers In the revolutionary
unions of the Trade Union Unity League!
Join the Communist Party--the leader of the
class battles of the toilers of both sexes of the
struggles of the Negro and white workers!
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-03
BY ANNA DAMON,

MARCH 9Th, International Womens Day Is
IVA approaching. It is a historic day OF 5trug-
gle against the capitalist oppression and inn
perialist war.
international Women's Day, 1882, win be car
ried out under two totally different systems. In
the Soviet Union. the country OF growing So
cial1sln covering One-sixth Of the world, and In
the capitalist countries Of decay1ng capitalism
On March 18th, 1882, the working and peasant
women Of the Soviet Union celebrate with great
10y the success Of the 5-year plan, their full
political and economic freedom which they
achieved through the overthrow Of the capital
list system and the establishment Of a Soviet
government
In the United States, International Wonsns
Day, 1882, March 9th will be g mighty demon
7tration against the boss government of hunger
and war-against irnperlahst war and for dc
Tense Of the Chinese masses and the Soviet
Union
Fight Against Low Wages
Negro and white working wonenl Eleven mil
1ior of you are now wage-earners. You are
forced to work in the mills and factories from
to IS hours g day for the miserable wage Of
IS to $40 week. The tnalnnan speed-up, night
work, unsanitary conditions, total absence Of
social insurance has undermined your health
and has reduced your condition 10 virtual
slavery.
You have participated heroically IN the strikes
against wage cuts, and increased exploitation
in Lawrence, Paterson, N. z, Dress Strike, Pitts
burgh and Kentucky Strikes. You bravely fought
back the brutal terror Of the bosses the govern
ment, the A. p. l.. agents end the leaders of
the Socialist Party, IN your fight against wage
cuts and for unemployment insurance, against
lynchings and deportations You have many
victims Of U. S. capitalist class rule Ella May
Virgins, mother Of i've children, was murdered
In cold blood by the textile bsrons Of the South
To-day Comrade Edith Berlzman National TeS-
tile Union organizer Us in jail, pending deports-
ton to fascist Poland Nine women organizers
IN the Kentucky strike area have been thrown
in jail and kept there since the beginning OF
the strike. Many New York Dress strik-
srs are in jail now because they dare to strike
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-03

on already decided war orders.
Increased activities of patriotic wOmen's OF~
ganizatiOn which are spreading their influences.
not only among housewives, but among factory
workers.
These organizations are the Red Cross, SAWS.
ton Army, Daughters of the American RevOlu-
ton, Betsy Ross Corps, Women's Auxiliaries OF
the American Legion, Girl Scouts, etc.
Their ant-working class propaganda with it's
demands for increased ornaments, and
Strengthening of national defense, and fascis1n,
their training of women to shoot, to pilot air.
planes are all part of their program to prepare
women for active participation in the next war
for inlperialst conquest.
In addition to these open activities Of TIE
patriotic organizations, is the campaign for dis
armament being waged by the pacifist wonen's
groups, as the Committee for the Cause and
Cure of War, Womens Trade Union League
headed by the Socialist, Rose Schneidefrnsn, tbs
Council of Jewish Women, Federation Of WOnas
ems Clubs, etc.
These organizations provide the Stnoke-screeM
of talk about disarmament, while active prep
arations for the next war are being carried out
by the government thus keeping these activities
in the background that there may be no agita-
ton against them, all attention being centered
on disarmament petitions and demands
Women workers hold very strategic position
in Wers. They carry on the industries, the food
supply the transportation system, while the men
are at the front. In the next war, the women
will do actual fighting.
Organization of Working WorreMA
OF eleven Ir4Ilion women workers IN the q. g.
only per ce-.S are skilled workers. Lack ct
organization mai : these women skilled as wen
as unskilled speca. 'argets for exploitation OF
these eleven million 'rkers only 5000 are or
ganized $4,000 i'll Amer n Federation Of Labor
Unions, under the Wo-ien's Trade Onion
League; 5000 in independent unions; 5000 II
the revolutionary unions.
No Negro women in the A. F. O. L. ur15ors
and only very small percentage IA xhs revuA
lutionary unions.
A. F. of L. refuses to organize working womer
and discriminates against masses Of unskneS
women workers.
Organized women total only one-hsM ct
per cent Of all the working women. This Is the
lowest percentage iii the world
In Germany Is per cent Of the wornsn are
organized; in Great Britain 20 per cent; JspaN.
per cent and in Francs, per oen&
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-03

and children are brutally murdered by Japanese
imperialism Japan with the full cooperation of
the United States and other imperialist powers
Is waging a war against China and is pre-
pairing for war against the Soviet Union with
open acts of provocation, such as the seizure of
parts Of the Chinese Eastern Railway, the &C.
cupaton Of Manchuria embargoes on Soviet
goods
While the umper1alst war RACES, the hypo-
critical 1mper1ahSt wsr-makers are staging
disarmament" conference in Geneva They are
using this conference as a means of diVerting
the attention Of the working class from real-
ties, IN order to raise smokes for the
war acts and. war preparations
None Of the imperalist powers have any in
tention of reducing their war machinery The
Soviet proposal for total disarmament has been
turned down at the conference Of the League
OF Nations and Will be turned down In Geneva
IN snoke-screentng its war preparations the
Hoover government finds its best allies in She
officials Of the Socialist Party, the leaders of
the wonlens pacifist. movement the American
Federation Of Labor. Those conscious support
crs Of the capitalists, Norman Thomas, William
Green, Matthew Vol, Carrie Chapman Gait
and others, are full OF praise for the Noble de-
slres OF the trnpertalist governments at the Cen
eva conference. They try to fool the workers
into believing that peace Is possible under capt.
taIsm-
1t is among women that pscitlss receive III.
greatest support Masses OF woene. who are
sincerely interested in peace, are betrg n,isled
by the pecifist leaders.
The militar1stic wonen's organizations the
NMCA. the Daughters of the American Revolu.
ton, the Betsy Ross Air Corps, arc controlled
BY the war department They have increased
their activities many fold and are trying to get
support among the masses Of working women
in the factories for the coming world slaughter
Working class women, Negro and wflitel You
are the ones who pay the hssv1aA penalties In
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-03
Unemployment

No unemployment Social Insurance. fcw every
worker.
Maternity insurance for all women workers, al
lowing them two months vscatiOn with fun pay
before and after childbirth.
The Labor Code prohibits the discharge of
pregnant women or refusal to give back former
Jobs after confinement On return to work.
women are allowed one-haN hour every three
hours to nurse the child, which is taksn care
of while the mother is at work in the factory
nursery.
After childbirth a special fund is provided to
buy clothes for the child, and a special milk
allowance is added to the wages for six months.
These grants come from tbs social Insurance
fund, which is non-contrtbutory for workers.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Cuta
Increased decentralization is urged, not that
the worker may be deprived Of her job through
the Introduction Of machinery, but that the fac
tory productivity may be increased, thus result
ing in shorter hours and higher wages
Production is carried on for the benefit OF
the working population, not for profit
No night work for women.
In heavy industries, women are allowed to wcrk
in only those departments where there Is spe-
Cial provision for them.
Seven-hour working day, with II days to a
months annual holiday with full pay.
Increase Of Number Of Women IN Industry.
In 1881. two million women workers were
freshly recruited into industry.
In order that women may not be forced to
carry the double burden OF work Ia the home
and work In the factory, there are attached to
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-03

the bosses wars. Already you are being trained
for the inperialist war. You work in the very
industries that produce munitions and poison
gasses-the munitions plants the rayon and
chemical industries. Don't be fooled into an
other bosses war!
Join the Communist Party which fights
against imperialist wars! Working men and
women, Negro and whitel Prepare organiza-
tionaly to defeat the plans of the bosses for
war against the Soviet Union. Organize together
with the men workers, in the shops anG fac
tories, TO fight for better conditions! Fight
against disnssals OF married and Negro women
murderous speed-up and part-time work De-
mand equal pay for equal work, equal rights for
Negroes and whites
Join the Industrial Unions and Leagues of the
Trade Union Unity League!
Demonstrate on March 6th against the
Hoover government of Hunger and War. Fight
for immediate unemployment relief for federal
unemployment insurance, for social and ma
ternity Insurance for working and farm women
for free food and clothing for children of the
unemployed workers Strengthen the fight
against evctons and high cost of living.
Make March 9Th day of struggle against the
wave of political reaction Demand the release
of Edith Berkman, Tom Mooney. the nine
Scottsboro boys and all the class and lynch law
victims support the heroic strike of the Ken
lucky coal miners and dressmakers
Men and women workers Negro and white!
Demonstrate your class solidarity with the
einanctpated women in the o. s. s. r. Garry on
the revolutionary struggles of International
Woinens Day. Join In demonstrations that will
forge chain of working class solidarity for
the revolutionary struggle against inlporialist
wara; for the defense of the Soviet linton and
the Chinese masses. Join the Communist Party
OF the United States, the only Party that fights
for tbs Interests of the exploited workers and
farmers and for emancipation from capitalist
rule s.s
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-03
International Women's Day

ing, subtle, hypocritica1 inequality in marriage
and family rights, inequality in relation to tbs
children-these have been completely abolished
by the Soviet Republic.
This is only the first step towards the eman=
cipation OF women. Yet not one OF the bour~
geois not one Of the most democratic OF the
republics has dared to take even this first ster
it has not dared to do SO because of its awe bs=
fore sacred private property"
The second and most important step consists
i'll the abolition OF private property in land, In
the factories and shops. In this way, and only
in this way, will the path be opened for the
complete and real emancipation of women, for
their liberation from household slavery" by
means Of the transition from individual houses
hold economy TO collective economy.
This transition is difficult. For 1t is a matter
here of overcoming the deepest-rooted, the most
traditional, the best-supported order of things"
in order to show the truth degradation and
barbarity, but no order But this transition
has already been begun, the wheels have been
put in motion, have set our feet upon tbs
new path.
And ON International Womens Day numerous
meetings Of women, in all countries of the world
will greet Soviet Russia, which has begun the
unbelevably difficult but great enormously
great work Of The real liberation women stir
ring appeals will be heard not 10 g courage
in face of the threatening and terrible '''rgeois
reaction But the more free" and "democl. ;r'
bourgeois country is, the more fiercely do the
capitalists threaten the rebellous workers. An
example Of this is given by the democratic re-
public of the United States Of America But the
mass Of workers has already awakened This
inperialist war has awakened both in Europe
and America, as well as in backward Asia, the
sunbering masses,
In all ends of the earth the ice has been
broken The liberation of the peoples from the
yoke OF imperialism, the freeing or The prole-
tartan men and women from the yoke of capi-
talisn goes on Increasingly. Hundreds Of mil
hons q rrclstarian men and women peasant
men and peasant women, carry the revolutaos
forward And for this reason the liberation q
labor from the chains Of capitalists ssxst u
victorious AZ oYr ths "a a try gSr.s
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-03
Conditions of Working Women in the Soviet Union

Free medical treatment and medical insurance
with full wages paid in case OF sickness.
Standard of Living.
Standard of living constantly rising. Wages
going up, with continual increase in quality of
goods.
Prostitution has practically been abolished.
Civil marriage and no differentiation between
official and actual marriage as regards rights
of children.
Birthrate is highest in the world. All visitors
marvel at health and happiness of the children.
Effects on Children.
In 1881, approximately five million children
were cared for in special institutions while ten
million will be taken care OF in 1882
In 1882, approximately 80 per cent of all chill
dren of school age are to be reached by COM
pulsory schooling.
There are more children's nurseries in the
Soviet Union than in all the capitalist countries
put together.
Mobilization For War.
Approximately seven million women have
joined the Avsoviakim, mass organization for
the defense of the Soviet Union against inper-
ialist military attack Women are taught to
shoot, and use a gas mask
Organization of Women.
-Four million women workers are organized in
the trade unions.
In the capitalist United States women are
douby exploited, working in the home and in
the factory, being used by the bosses to beat
down wages and to supplant the labor of men.
In the Soviet Union, women are induced to
participate in production, every precauton being
taken for the health, and the care of their chill
dren, the whole living and cultural standard is
being rapidly raised.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-03
FACTS FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
Conditions of Working Women in the United States Of

ers, No social insurance. No reliet to single,
unemployed women Less than i per cent of
women are affected even by the benefit plans
Of private companies, No protection for the
wives and children of unemployed men workers.
Standard Of Living.
Lowered from 80 to Is per cent through wage
cuts, unemployment stagger plan, etc. Decrease
in cost OF living only to per cent through
same period. Insanity, disease. suicide, deaths
from starvation broke all records In 1881.
Hundreds of thousands Of women driven to
prostitution. .'i
All these conditions magnified for the Negro
woman; high rents and unsanitary housing in
segregated neighborhoods and special oiscsimin-