Evening star., 1932-09-02
WOMEN SUFFERING
MOST FROM LULL
Men Get More Attention,
Federal Bureau Chief
Declares.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
Mi@ Mary Anderson, chief of the
Federal womans Bureau, today pre-
pared 10 observe what she termed an
other Labor day after another year
of depression" by taking inventory Of
how 100000 women gainfully en-
ployed in 1880 had "weathered the
ordeal"
Going into labor statistics of all the
States, she concluded the women had
probably had at least an edge worse
of economic sword -thrusting, though
suffering more in silence.
She granted there WAS no way Of
telling, exactly how many unemployed
men and women there are this Labor
day. nor which sex is bearing the
heavier burden OF depression" But
typical reports from here and there"
she said, were fragments from which
could be compiled the story of jobless
and penniless women"
Less stress has been laid on the
hardships of woman workers than ON
those of men," said Miss Anderson. The
spotlight of publicity has been laid
on the latter, because men out of work
organize and dramatic their misfor-
tunes more strikinely than do women.
Through bread lines and unemploy-
ment, demonstrations they call direct
attention to urgent needs"
Points to Low Wages.
However, Miss Anderson cited figures
to show employment decline for
women greater than for men, and wom-
ems wages strikingly lower" Most COM
prehensive and up to date we're statis-
tics from New York and Illinois. the
two States which publish monthly
figures showing employment changes for
both sexes.
Decreases in average weekly earn
ings from June, 1891, to June, 1892,
in Illinois manufacturing were % per
women; In New York, Is per cent for
men and 10 per cent for women" she
said. In June, 1882, Illinois women's
wage average was $11.52 a week, as
against S20.5e for men; in New York
the wage was $l2.88 for women, $24.43
for men,"
As for working hours. Miss Anderson
added: The Woman's Bureau, through
its investigations, has evidence that
some firms have been working their
women 10, IL and II hours day, or
even longer, with no extra pay for
overtime"
This she termed selfish exploitation
Of workers ashamed to make protest
at the risk Of losing their Jobs
in period when we hear industrial
lists and economists urging the Ave
day week and six-hour day as an es-
sential standard for q healthy indus
trial future"
But in the working women's bitter
est cup Miss Anderson saw among
prophetic tea leaves a small sign of q
brighter future.
Face Added Obstacle,
I'm times of depression many women
must face a difficulty unknown to
men-the bitter resentment against
their employment and the unjust accu-
seton they are taking jobs from men,"
she Sid. The past decade, however.
his brought noticeable change in
sch attitude.
IN the economic slump of 1920-21
rc5-rtment was directed against woman
v'oN'.ers as a clcs-, based on the feeling
tnet r1en had priDr rights and that
W7-1e1 as wage earners were intruders.
IN our present crisis this criticism
haF narrowed down and centered on
married women workers. based on the
wholly false assumption all married
wofnsn have husbands with wages suf-
f1cient to support family.
The sooner we stop trying to award
jobs on the basis OF need, sex or
contugal condition. rather than on
qualifications, the better it will be-"