Chapter 20: The Working Girls of New York
Introduction
In Chapter 20: The Working Girls of New York Riis discusses the lives of the women in New York. Riis talks about the unfair wages they recieve, and the other injustices they face in the workplace.
Summary
In this chapter Riis states, "It is simply impossible for any woman to live without assistance on the low salary a saleswoman earns, without depriving herself of real necessities..." (Riis 176) He was saying that women during this time period needed more than what their salaries gave them. Women earned less than men and did not have a set limit on how much their salaries needed to be, unlike men. This would often lead many women into prostitution to earn more money.
Girls normally started work before their teens, some even lying about their age to get work. Many of them would earn low salaries, plus they would also be docked for simple things. For example, "one of the causes for fine in a certain large store was sitting down. The law requiring seats for saleswomen, generally ignored, was obeyed faithfully in this establishment. The seats were there, but the girls were fined when found using them" (Riis 177). The women of New York lived like this for quite a while, but Riis makes it a point to say that it appears they will soon get their justice, deriving it from the many new women's organizations that began to come into existence during this time period.
Girls normally started work before their teens, some even lying about their age to get work. Many of them would earn low salaries, plus they would also be docked for simple things. For example, "one of the causes for fine in a certain large store was sitting down. The law requiring seats for saleswomen, generally ignored, was obeyed faithfully in this establishment. The seats were there, but the girls were fined when found using them" (Riis 177). The women of New York lived like this for quite a while, but Riis makes it a point to say that it appears they will soon get their justice, deriving it from the many new women's organizations that began to come into existence during this time period.
Key Words
- profligate - a licentious, dissolute person
Maps and Pictures
Bibliography
Riis, Jacob. How the Other Half Lives. New York: Penquin Books Ltd., 1890.
Riis, Jacob. How the Other Half Lives. New York: Penquin Books Ltd., 1890.