THE LIVES OF WOMEN AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY
A misperception of the roles of women early 20th century cities: housewives. Yes, marriage (and early marriage at that) was a common and emphasized significant social institution that shapes the lives of millions of women in America prior to World War I. But, there were many more facets to a woman's life. Detroit women were active in their families, in their neighborhoods, in their churches, in politics, and in the workforce.
In fact, in her book, The Political Activities of Detroit Clubwomen in the 1920s, Jayne Morris-Crowther sheds light on the lobbying efforts and successes of the nearly 15,000 clubwomen. These women advocated for building community spaces like playgrounds, raising the age for child workers, and reforming the school board. Contrary to mainstream belief, women were not strangers to the political realm at the turn of the century just because they were not as visible at the federal level. Clubwomen focused on changes that would directly affect their families and communities at the city and state level. These women were able to see the results of their work on their street corners and in their children’s schools. (2.)
While it is true that many women earned a living in domestic and service jobs, like tailoring, laundering, maintenance, and other unskilled labor positions. But this differed for the women of each ethnic group in Detroit.
POLISH WOMEN
Catholicism was a crux in the Polish-American community. Due to restrictions on women becoming priests, women became nuns and parochial teachers. A religious career provided women with a path to higher education attainment, as well as venerated positions within their community.
Other Polish women worked in the cigar industry. There were dozens of tobacco factories in central and east Detroit, and employees were almost exclusively single Polish women. (But more about this later.)
JEWISH WOMEN
Jewish women often helped their husbands and families run small businesses. Since entrepreneurship was a characteristic of Jewish culture, as well as a family undertaking, it is natural that daughters and wives were involved in the operation of shops. Types of shops included butcheries, grocery stores, bakeries, jewelries, clothing stores, so job tasks were things like baking, preparing, sewing, selling, keeping records, and a lot more. (3.)
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN
73% of employed African-American women worked in the domestic field in 1926. Factory jobs for women were almost impossible to come by, due to prevalent discrimination in the city and a preference for men. This group of women had the most difficulty finding and retaining work in Detroit, even though the Urban League (an organization with an employment bureau for African-Americans) placed more black women than men in jobs. (1.)
THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN LABOR
Across ethnicity, churches played an important role in job placement. Employers like Henry Ford sought recommendations from churches when looking to hire new employees. In other situations, employers would make hires through church leaders with the inclusion non-unionizing pacts. (3.)
REFERENCES:
(1.) Martin, Elizabeth A. "Detroit and the Great Migration 1916-1929." University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library. Accessed November 9, 2014. Detroit and the Great Migration 1916-1929.
(2.) Morris-Crowther, Jayne. The Political Activities of Detroit Clubwomen in the 1920s: A Challenge and a Promise. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2013. Accessed November 11, 2014.
(3.) Professors: Moore, Deborah, and Marian Krzyzowski. 20th Century Detroit: Race, Ethnicity, and Religion. University of Michigan. 2014.
A misperception of the roles of women early 20th century cities: housewives. Yes, marriage (and early marriage at that) was a common and emphasized significant social institution that shapes the lives of millions of women in America prior to World War I. But, there were many more facets to a woman's life. Detroit women were active in their families, in their neighborhoods, in their churches, in politics, and in the workforce.
In fact, in her book, The Political Activities of Detroit Clubwomen in the 1920s, Jayne Morris-Crowther sheds light on the lobbying efforts and successes of the nearly 15,000 clubwomen. These women advocated for building community spaces like playgrounds, raising the age for child workers, and reforming the school board. Contrary to mainstream belief, women were not strangers to the political realm at the turn of the century just because they were not as visible at the federal level. Clubwomen focused on changes that would directly affect their families and communities at the city and state level. These women were able to see the results of their work on their street corners and in their children’s schools. (2.)
While it is true that many women earned a living in domestic and service jobs, like tailoring, laundering, maintenance, and other unskilled labor positions. But this differed for the women of each ethnic group in Detroit.
POLISH WOMEN
Catholicism was a crux in the Polish-American community. Due to restrictions on women becoming priests, women became nuns and parochial teachers. A religious career provided women with a path to higher education attainment, as well as venerated positions within their community.
Other Polish women worked in the cigar industry. There were dozens of tobacco factories in central and east Detroit, and employees were almost exclusively single Polish women. (But more about this later.)
JEWISH WOMEN
Jewish women often helped their husbands and families run small businesses. Since entrepreneurship was a characteristic of Jewish culture, as well as a family undertaking, it is natural that daughters and wives were involved in the operation of shops. Types of shops included butcheries, grocery stores, bakeries, jewelries, clothing stores, so job tasks were things like baking, preparing, sewing, selling, keeping records, and a lot more. (3.)
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN
73% of employed African-American women worked in the domestic field in 1926. Factory jobs for women were almost impossible to come by, due to prevalent discrimination in the city and a preference for men. This group of women had the most difficulty finding and retaining work in Detroit, even though the Urban League (an organization with an employment bureau for African-Americans) placed more black women than men in jobs. (1.)
THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN LABOR
Across ethnicity, churches played an important role in job placement. Employers like Henry Ford sought recommendations from churches when looking to hire new employees. In other situations, employers would make hires through church leaders with the inclusion non-unionizing pacts. (3.)
REFERENCES:
(1.) Martin, Elizabeth A. "Detroit and the Great Migration 1916-1929." University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library. Accessed November 9, 2014. Detroit and the Great Migration 1916-1929.
(2.) Morris-Crowther, Jayne. The Political Activities of Detroit Clubwomen in the 1920s: A Challenge and a Promise. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2013. Accessed November 11, 2014.
(3.) Professors: Moore, Deborah, and Marian Krzyzowski. 20th Century Detroit: Race, Ethnicity, and Religion. University of Michigan. 2014.