The extent to whieli women are employed in productive pursuits is shown by the census of 1900, there were 5.329.507 engaged in gain ful orenpations (to 23.050,115 males), distributed as follows : 2.099,165 in (limiest ie service ; 951.025 in agriculture, of whom 665,791 are agri cultural laborers: 1.115.890 in manufeeture; 503,571 in trade end transportation; and 431.153 in the There were 341.948 dress makers; 335,711 laundresses; 277.972 textile workers: 110.256 saleswomen: 86.158 stenog raphers: 31.132 retail dealers; 74.186 bookkeep ers and neeountants; 83.20 clerks: and 22.556 telephone and telegraph operators. In higher positions were found 253 bankers; 45 brokers; 1271 officers of banks; 2883 manufacturers and officials of companies; 153 builders and contrac tors; and 261 wholesale dealers. Some of the unusual employments of women were: 154 boat men and sailors; 870 watchmen, policemen, and detectives; S5 bootblacks; 1320 hunters; 2 motormen; 13 street car conductors; 31 brake men; 7 steam car conductors; 2 roofers; 126 plumbers; 45 plasterers; 167 brick and stone masons: 24] paper hangers: 1759 painters; 545 carpenters; 41 mechanics; 193 blacksmiths; 571 machinists; 3370 workers in iron and steel: SOO brass workers; 1775 workers in tin; 100 lumber men; 113 wood-choppers; 373 sawmill em ployees; 440 bartenders; 2086 saloon-keepers; 906 draymen; 324 undertakers; 177 stationary engineers and firemen; 1947 stock-raisers; 409 electricians; 84 civil engineers; 3 mining engi neers; 11 surveyors; 248 chemists; 21 steve dores: 7S longshoremen; and 5582 barbers.
The objections to women in industrial life are: (1) theoretical—the proper place for a woman is in a home. supported by a man; (2) their will ingness to accept low pay; (3) the bad condi tions under which they are frequently forced to work, with the resulting injury to health: (4) in jury to morals, from working with men, subor dination to men, and temptations accompanying freedom; (5) competition with men, depriving men of their occupations, lessening their respect for women, and frequently making them depend ent upon woven; and (6) demoralization of the home when married women with young children are employed. The advantages urged are the
training resulting from industrial life under so cial rather than personal relations; the develop ment of technical skill and the utilization of spe cial abilities; the breadth of view obtained from contact with men; the moral training of self-sup port; and the importance of economic independ ence. Among the reasons for woman's low wages are: her position as a new- economic facto•; her low• standard of living; her frequent partial sup port: the insufficiency of her equipment, often due to the expectation of marriage; the restricted field of employment and the exclusion from gain ful occupations; her anomalous political posi tion; her lack of trade organization; protective factory legislation, limiting her when in compe tition with men: her loss of time through illness; and her traditional inferiority.
In England and on the Continent many women are employed in factories. domestic service, low grade teaching positions, and low-paid Govern ment in the post-office, telegraph of fices, and as clerks. In England and Belgium agricultural cmu•ses are being provided. ln Austria and other part s of Europe many women are day laborers. In France women assist their husbands and many have been successful in commerce. In Germany and women are being organized.
Congresses have been held to consider women's work.
13tumonnAmly. Rh it re in Primitive Industry, (New York. 19001 ; Veblen, Theory of the Leisure Classes (New York, 1899) ; Stetson. Mona and Leon o m ies (New York. 1898): Campbell. Wage Earn ers' Bibliography (Boston. 1893) ; 1.7/rrenih ilea 1 Report of the United States Commissioner of Labor; Massachusetts Labor Bulletins; Inter national Congress of (1899) ; "Women industrial Life," Chautaugunit (October, 1897) ; Science Quarterly, xv.; Leonomic Journal, i. England: Reports of Royal 0)111111iS SiM18 (1832. 1863) ; Collet, Er/urn/eft Workiny ll'omen (London, 1902). See DomEsric SERVICE 1Nnu8Tium.. BEvoLurioN; LABOR PROBLEMS.