The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman's WorkPenny, Virginia
General
The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman's Work
Penny, Virginia
Women -- Employment
glover in Salem writes: "Our women sew by hand, and earn $3 per week.
Men spend three years in learning--women six months. The prospect for
work is poor, as importation is destroying the business." A manufacturer
at Gloversville writes: "Women earn from $3 to $5 a week, ten hours a
day. Males get as much again as women. A smart woman will learn in eight
months. Prospect of work in the future is good." Manufacturers in
Broadalbin, N. Y., write me they employ twelve American women at the
shop, and about one hundred out of the shop, finishing up. When paid by
the week, they receive from $2 to $4.50, and work ten hours a day. The
comparison in prices in male and female labor is about $2 to $1, for the
reason that it requires more strength, labor, and skill to perform the
man's part. Men spend two or three years in learning--women, six months.
Punctuality, sobriety, and a liberal education, together with a steady
nerve, will insure success in our business. (Some one else suggests,
mechanical talent.) As long as there are feet to wear moccasins, and
hands to wear gloves, our kind of business must thrive. Board in neat
and commodious houses, $2 for women." A glover in New Hampshire writes:
"Women sew by the piece for me; most have families, do their own work,
and sew when they can--so I cannot say how much they would earn, if they
sewed constantly. A man would have to spend from two to four years
qualifying himself to superintend; the part done by women can be learned
in from two to six weeks. Summer is the best season, but good workers
have constant employment. All are Americans. Any locality is good where
water power may be had. Ladies pay for board from $1.50 to $1.70 per
week." Another in Perth, N. Y., says: "Some of our workers use sewing
machines; others fit and prepare the goods for them. They earn from $3
to $4.75. The male and female labor is different in our establishment. I
think the business permanent. Best time for work is from 1st of March to
1st of November. They work all daylight, except at meal times. When a
certain amount of work is required in a given time, the women are apt to
overwork themselves and slight the work. The wives and daughters of
mechanics and farmers do the piecework at their homes. All Americans.
Board, from $1.75 to $2." "At Gloversville the men cut, and machines do
the sewing. Five pair of mits and two pair of gloves are a heavy days
work. Gloves are worth 75 cents per day to cut; and to make from 12½
cents for a light article, to 18 cents for heavy ones."--_Woollen
Gloves._ I was told by a man who employed eight girls to crochet woollen
gloves for him, that he pays fifty cents a dozen pairs. He makes over
five cents profit on a pair when selling to the wholesale stores; and in
retailing, nine cents a pair. He says a right expeditious girl can make
one dozen pairs a day. He employs his girls all the year. Most that
attempt to learn find their progress so slow that they get discouraged,
and give it up.
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