Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-11-28
Married Women and
Jobs
BY FREDERIC J. HASEJN.

W care lOI Iilc IIeeuy through Jno
approaching winter. From many quar-
tiers has come word that increased
demands have been made on local and
State agencies despite the upward trend
in employment. Congress, now in extra
session, has before it many measures that
are relief in character with a further
hope of placing the Nations unemployed,
as we'll as it's unemployables, on some
definite basis. One of the measures
would tend to debar married women
from certain types of employment. More
and more the question of womans
economic status becomes increasingly
important.
The first law permitting the employ
ment of women as clerks in Federal
Government Offices was passed in 1870.
Today more than $4,000 women are
employed in such offices in Washington
alone, while nearly $4,000 or more are
employed outside Of the Capital City.
Women are being appointed to such
Government positions as psychologists,
biologists, botanists chemists, econo-
mists, educators, patent examiners,
pharmacoogists, physicists, statisticians,
biologists and technologists of various
kinds, and many women hold postmas-
terships A woman is Secretary of Labor
and several are court judges.
With the industrial revolution began
the exodus of woman from home tasks
to industrial occupations. The new
machines are now doing, more cheaply
and more efficiently, the work she for
merly had been doing in the home. The
standard of living having been raised,
it has long since become necessary for
some women to go into factories and
other places of employment.
The last census reports show that in
this country there are more than
10,750000 women gainfully employed. 1t
is because of this large number that
women are being accused of filling jobs
which should go to men, and thus COM
plicating the unemployment situation
A recent survey shows that there are
five outstanding groups of occupations
for women. These are domestic and
personal service clerical occupations,
manufacturing and professional work.
Yet in these five groups women outnum-
bered men only in domestic and personal
service. In the manufacturing and
trade group there are more than five
men to every woman. This survey also
offers many wage scales comparing the
wages of men and women. One particu-
lar scale reported by the United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics states that in
woman employing industries the weekly
wage is below $40 In employing
industries the weekly wage is almost
always above $40 and gradually to $50
and above. In seven out Of nine indus
tries the average annual income OF
women is not more than 81 900, while IN
industries employing men the annual
income is above $1,000. Many reports,
data and wage scales show that no mat
ter what the circumstances are, women
are paid less than men for the same
work. In several factories it was found
that skilled women were paid less than
the unskilled laborers, who were men.
This situation becomes more econom-
ically complex because women formerly
did only household tasks. for which they
received no pay. Also, women do much
part-time and fll-in work of seasonal
nature In piece-work industries where
great numbers of women are employed
the old idea still persists that woman's
work is of little economic value.
AS result Of many studies and sur
veys, efforts are being made to establish
minimum wage law for women. In
the District of Columbia such law has
recently been passed, the minimum wage
being set at SIT per week. The advocates
of such a step believe that it will elm
mate an unfair situation for women, and
will protect the standard of mems wages
in industries where the tendency is to
employ cheap woman labor.
Contemplation of a national minimum
wage law for women brings forth dis
cusson as to fairness and general effect
of such a piece of legislation. The
experience of those States which have
introduced such a law has been that
wages have been materially raised for
large numbers of women. Also, the
wages of those receiving above the mini
mum have not been reduced, but in many
cases have been raised.
In California, where for more than
twenty years minimum wage law for
women has been in effect. the advisable
ity of such law is we'll illustrated. The
weekly wage minimum increased from
$40 in 1917 to SIG in 1920. and so con-
\ tlnued for almost fifteen years dropping
off slightly during the depression. This
resulted in many more women going
into industry. yet in 1921 the percentage
of men receiving Sl8 week or more was
918 while that of women was 40.
In Massachusetts, and wisconsin,
where minimum wage laws have been in
effect for some years, practically the
same results have been shown. The
minimum laws have been lower in these
two States than in California, but
employment of women increased on
par with that of California Therefore.
the minimum wage law survey shows
that: Employment of women increases.
in spite of the increase in wages; that
wages continue to increase, and that the
minimum does not become the maximum
In the thorough study which has been
made of Woman's economic status. it has
been found that large numbers of women
are solely responsible for the support OF
others. From a study of 100000 employed
women, it was found that 47,000 were
the sole family support or had persons
depending upon them for livelihood. OF
all the women employed in this country.
over 100000 are responsible for the home
making and the family besides being
| gainfully employed. A large per cent OF
women were supporting families of three
or more members. These women were
found, in all types of occupations. In
Philadelphia. $500 married women were
supporting families. many Of which were
large, according to survey.
In studying the problem Of employed
women on relief projects in New York