Practical Suggestions for Mother and Housewife — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Practical Suggestions for Mother and Housewife
John Stuart Mill · en
After such a preparation as this, one may confidently enter the active
profession of journalism as a reporter, preferably upon the paper for
which she has been writing. Since in entering any profession opportunity
for improvement and advancement in it is the first consideration, the
young reporter should cheerfully accept the low salary that is paid
beginners. There is no discrimination on account of sex in the newspaper
world. Copy is paid for according to its amount and quality, regardless
of whether it was written by a woman or a man. Women labor here, as
elsewhere, under physical disabilities in comparison with men, and yet
in compensation they have the advantage over men in their special
adaptation to certain features of newspaper work, such as the
interviewing of women, writing household and fashion articles, etc.
There are more chances for this kind of special work in large cities,
and here the aspiring newspaper woman may go, when she has proved her
ability.
Mrs. Ida Husted Harper, who stands in the front rank of newspaper women,
has tersely stated the duties a woman reporter must undertake and the
sacrifices she must make, as follows: "The woman who wishes to be a
newspaper reporter should ask herself if she is able to toil from eight
to fifteen hours of the day, seven days in the week; if she is willing
to take whatever assignment may be given; to go wherever sent, to
accomplish what she is delegated to do, at whatever risk, or rebuff, or
inconvenience; to brave all kinds of weather; to give up the frivolities
of dress that women love and confine herself to a plain serviceable
suit; to renounce practically the pleasures of social life; to put her
relations to others on a business basis; to subordinate personal desires
and eliminate the 'ego'; to be careful always to disarm prejudice
against and create an impression favorable to women in this occupation;
to expect no favors on account of sex; to submit her work to the same
standard by which a man's is judged."
The salaries earned by women as reporters are, with a few notable
exceptions, not large. As low as $8 and $10 a week are paid to
beginners; from $15 to $25 a week is considered a fair salary, and $30 a
week an exceptionally good one for a woman who has not received
recognition as a thoroughly experienced reporter.
It is from the ranks of newspaper women who have gone to the large
cities and made a name for themselves as capable reporters that the
editorial staffs of the magazines are recruited. As a rule they obtain
their introductions by magazine contributions chiefly of special
articles on subjects in which they have made themselves experts.
The salaries of these positions range from $25 a week for assistant
editors to $50 and upward for the heads of departments.