Lowell Mills Girls

Part I of Essay
In The Oppressing Hand of Avarice Would Enslave Us, Thomas Dublin says that the life and sense of community of the women mill operatives was crucial for their ability to protest wage cuts and long work days. This sense of community among the women was nurtured by the struct ....

Part II of Essay
.... This made the new women rely on their fellow workers for training and support. Many times work would be shared if it was necessary. Friends would cover each other so that the one who was absent could continue to make her wages, while taking time off to recover from sickness or to just go on a small vacation. This was another way that dependence developed among the female workers during work hours. The mill work itself rooted the interdependence of the women. The living conditions at the factory also helped to develop a sense of community am ....