The First Wage Workers – The Women of Lowell Mills Researcher: Elizabeth Fisk and Advisor: Dr. Kathleen Thomas University of Wisconsin-Stout Works Cited 1.The Ways of her Household” pp by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich in Women’s America: Refocusing the Past edited by Linda K. Kerber. New York: Oxford University Press, “Away From Home: The Working Girls of Lowell” pp Ed. By William Wheeler and Susan Becker in Discovering the American Past. New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., Halsall, Paul. "Harriet Robinson: Lowell Mill Girls." Modern History Sourcebook. N.p., Web. 17 Mar Facts of the Women of Lowell Mills Majority of the women were between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five. (3) Being a mill girl was seen as being degrading, as such, high wages were offered to them. “She has worked in a factory, is sufficient to damn to infamy the most worthy and virtuous girl.” - Orestes A. Brownson (2) Setting the Stage Housekeeping on a farm in the early 1800’s included all necessary upkeep. “A woman’s environment was the family dwelling and the yard or yards surrounding it.” (1) Could be responsible for brewhouses, milkhouses, washhouses, and butteries. Women were restricted in what they could and could not do on a farm. “The line demarking the housewife’s realm would not cross the fences which defined outlying fields.” (1) All this began to change with the creation of factories and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution: Severe shortage of men to work in the factories as many were moving west and did not want to be “daily laborers.” Only available labor supply in great numbers were young women. Families and daughters had to be convinced in order to work in factories. Had to fight against the “cult of true womanhood” - the idea the women belonged in the home. “True women possessed four virtues: piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity.” (1) To assure families that their daughters would be taken care of, mill owners created a rigid work structure with the morning bell at 4:30 and an average working day of eleven hours. “Regulations to be observed by persons occupying the Boarding-houses belonging to the Merrimack Manufacturing company…No disorderly or improper conduct must be allowed in the houses. The doors must be closed at 10 o’clock in the evening…” (2) All rules and regulations were designed to preserve the “cult of true womanhood.” Generally worked eight to ten months out of the year. Women did not believe that they were doing wrong by working: “Then we must be a set of worthy and virtuous idiots, for no virtuous girl of common sense would choose for an occupation that would consign her to infamy…” - Factory Girl in response to Brownson (2) Before the mills, women were more likely to save rather than to spend. (3) Soon had a disposable income that they could use as they wished. Opportunities for Mill Girls With a steady income, women were able to purchase many items that were not available to them before, such as silk dresses and gold watches. Many upper-class women did not like mill girls newfound wealth: “Oh the times! Oh the manners! Alas! How very sadly the world has changed! The time was when the lady could be distinguished from the no-lady by her dress…” – An upper-class woman (2) The factory women often responded in kind: “Those who do not labor for a living, have more time for the improvement of their minds…and for graceful manners; but if, with these advantages, they still need richer dress to distinguish them from us, the fault must be their own.” – Factory Girl (2) Upper-class women often believed that factory girls were not worthy: “How stands the difference now? Many of the factory girls wear gold watches, and an imitation, at least, of all the ornaments which grace the daughters of our most opulent citizens.” – Upper Class Woman (2) Mill girls also had other opportunities that they did not have before. Created a magazine, “The Lowell Offering” where they could print items such as poems and stories that they had written. Were able to experience life in a setting that was completely new and independent of parents. Such as: living with other women, going to lectures in the evenings, and dating. Conclusions The “cult of true womanhood” and the concept of “wage workers” changed the concept of womanhood in the 1800’s. Showed how women could earn money working in the factories and the new opportunities money allowed them. Moved against the idea of the “cult of true womanhood” that restricted the movements of women. Gave women new opportunities for their voice to be heard, such as in “The Lowell Offering” and set the stage for later events such as Seneca Falls and the quest for women’s rights.