The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman's Work — John Shaqi
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
In the selection of a pursuit, it would be well to take into
consideration what occupations are most likely to increase in this
country. Those absolutely necessary for the preservation of life are
permanent. Those essential to the health and comfort of mankind must be
pursued by some. The steadiness of employment the year round should also
be considered. Another item is the danger attending a trade, and the
effects of the occupation on the health of the individual. A better
compensation should be given to those prosecuting either a dangerous or
unhealthy pursuit. There is at present more danger of women suffering
from either an excess of work, or the entire want of it, than from any
peculiarity pertaining to an occupation. A matter of some importance is
the ability of an individual to furnish herself with the implements of a
trade, goods for merchandizing, or the appurtenances of a profession, if
she intends to conduct business on her own responsibility and at her own
expense. If she has friends to advance her the money, she might perhaps
make an arrangement to refund as she advances in business.
It is a matter of doubt with us whether the labors of women are on an
average less laborious than those of men. That they are generally
performed indoors, is not saying anything in their favor as regards
health. If we include domestic employments, we cannot say they are
neater on an average. They may be better adapted to the constitution of
the female sex, but the question arises, Are those in which women now
engage, except domestic duties, more congenial to their taste, more
acceptable to their feelings, more likely to develop their mental
powers, and rightly direct their moral nature, than many others in which
they might engage?
We find that the class of workers, both men and women, having the most
steady employments, are the most steady and reliable people.
There are some employments in which it is well for a man and his wife to
unite, as bankers, picture restorers, house painters, &c.
There is probably as much diversity in the abilities of individual men
to acquire a trade, as in those of women. We doubt not but women,
generally, are as capable of acquiring a knowledge of any vocation as
men, if they spend as much time and application in doing so. Could not
women learn those occupations quite as thoroughly that require of men an
apprenticeship of three, five, or seven years, if they could give the
same time? We are confident the majority of women could, particularly
those who have had equal advantages in the way of education and society
with men engaged in the same pursuit.
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