Blog #8- Chantalle P.
Part A
1. Some of the most significant developments in women's wage labor in the late nineteenth century was the industrial growth that came after the civil war and after slavery. The female labor force grew rapidly and abundantly. This roll took away from the presumption that women had to stay and work at home. These significant developments caused a great change in the class system that had been setup in the pre-industrial era. There was an increase in antagonism among the classes which caused national unity to decline. These developments also made a great change in women of each class. The industrial growth had a very beneficial effect on the working class women where three quarters were not married. I believe this brought some independence to working class women. It brought them power to use their money as they pleased. The upper class benefited also as they enjoyed the new wealth and influence that came with the women's labor force. The middle class also followed in the upper class's footsteps.
2. The importance of these pictures of Native American young women for understanding the Native American experience during the era of western consolidation is that these images represent their assimilation into American culture. The significant change in the images is extremely noticeable. In the first image, it is much more evident that these young ladies are of a different culture with different etiquette. Whereas, in the second image, it is hardly evident to see a vast difference in American culture and Native American culture. The ladies are dressed as other American white women, they are no longer sitting with their legs folded on the ground, but on tables and it looks as though they are ready for tea. It is no wonder why Native Americans are so hard to come across these days, as Americans had in those days trying to assimilate them so eagerly.
Part B
3. In the story, the different sorts of women Bessie Van Vorst meets in the factory are either liking their job, or not, but at the end of the day they do not seem to disagree that there is much effort put in but a sense of accomplishment to each woman.
4. Bessie Van Vorst concludes that women are passive in accepting their working conditions and unwilling to stand up for themselves in the way of working men because they were not only working to earn a living, but working was a way of earning luxury and leisure time. I think she is right, although I think it is unfortunate that it had to be the only way that women could achieve those things. It makes me realize how lucky I am to live in the time I do now, where women are able to work and even be leading over men in the work industry. It is an extremely humbling experience.
