Women Wage-Earners: Their Past, Their Present, and Their FutureCampbell, Helen
History
Women Wage-Earners: Their Past, Their Present, and Their Future
Campbell, Helen
Women -- Employment -- United States
12. In most houses, however elegant, the girls have no home
privacy; they must sleep, not only in the same room, but most
frequently in the same bed; it is rarely thought necessary to make
that room pleasant or even warm for them to dress by or to sit in
to do their own sewing. The little tastes and notions of each
member of the family, down to the youngest, are provided for; but a
"girl" is not supposed to have any. She is just a "girl," as a
gridiron is a gridiron, an article bought for the convenience of
the family. If she suits, use her till she is worn out and then
throw her away.
13. To go into house service, even from the most wretched slop or
factory work, is to lose caste in our own world; it may be a very
narrow world, but it is all to us. A saleswoman or cashier or
teacher is ashamed to associate with servants.
14. The very words, "No followers," would keep us out of such
occupation. No self-respecting young woman is going to put herself
in a position where she is not allowed to entertain her friends,
both male and female; nor where, if allowed, the only place thought
fit for them is the kitchen.
Now, the above is not theory, but testimony, taken by the present
writer from the lips of intelligent working-girls, many of whom
would be better off at housework than at their present occupations,
except for the objections. And from a consideration thereof results
this query: Given a certain number of young women of a class
superior to the imported, willing to take service under the
following conditions, how many housekeepers would agree to the
conditions?--
1. The heaviest work, as washing, carrying coal, scrubbing
pavements, and the like, to be provided for, if this be asked, with
consequent deduction in wages.
2. In families, where practicable, certain hours of absolute
freedom while in the house, especially with the child's nurse.
3. Such a way of speaking, both to and of your house help, as
testifies to the world that you really do consider housework as
respectable as other occupations.
4. A well-warmed, well-furnished room, with separate beds when
desired; and the use of a decent place and appointments at meals.
5. The privilege of seeing friends, whether male or female; of a
better part of the house than the kitchen in which to receive them;
and security from espionage during their visits,--this accompanied
by proper restrictions as to evening hours, and under the condition
that the work is not neglected.
6. No livery, if objected to.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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