The fact cannot be disputed that no single factor in modern life is doing so much to degenerate our young womanhood as this mad race on the part of girls, impelled by necessity or not, to go into the business world, says the Ladies’ Home Journal. These may sound like strong words to the ears of some, but to those who are really cognizant of the immensity of the evil results that are being wrought they will simply fit the case and not go beyond it. In altogether too many of our commercial and industrial establishments, stores and factories, the men into whose hands is given the power to employ and control girls are not fit, from a moral standpoint, to herd swine. And yet thousands of our young women are allowed to go from their homes to work under the influence of these men and in the atmosphere vitiated by them. And why? Simply because it is considered more “respectable” to be employed in an office, store or factory than to be engaged in domestic service. The very word “servant” has a taint about it that the majority of young women dislike and from which they flee. But what else are they in business establishments than servants, pure and simple? There can be no difference by an imaginary one. That is all. Far less leniency is shown in our business houses to women employes than is shown, as a rule, in our homes to domestic help–infinitely less.
The Ladies’ Home Journal was probably responding to its readers’ pleas for help in finding good help, and hoping that young women could be averted from the factory by threats of moral turpitude.
There doesn’t seem to be any mention of the reasons why a young woman would choose to work in a factory instead of a house… like wages, for instance.
I debated whether or not to make this part of the “Same Today” category, until I re-read “no single factor in modern life is doing so much to degenerate our young womanhood.” The particulars are irrelevant, because the theme is so prevalent.