As the Industrial Revolution emerged, factories were spreading rapidly and the owners needed workers immediately. With the high amount of work that needed to be done, the owners refused to pay high wages. They knew that hiring children would be their easy way out, but more like their cheap way. Unfortunately during this time families needed the money so it was only practical for the kids to take on such jobs. The factories took advantage of the small children not being educated, and used their size to help move through the small dangerous machinery that adults couldn't. Restrictions and a certain amount of working hours did not exist. The kids never complained nor the parents because the working class families needed the extra income, no matter how unsafe.
As the children worked, the women took on the role of laboring as well. They were able to find jobs in textile factories, piece work shops and even coal mines. Just like the environment the children were working in the women's weren't any safer. All the machinery in the factories were dangerously clustered together, and the work areas were chaotic. These women would work long hours and have to come home to finish up their domestic work to keep the house hold running. The women during this time period had a lot to juggle to keep their own families running.
I agree with this post. Women and children did not have it as easy as they do today. Children were wanted to work in the factories because they did not require high pay, they were small and able to fit in small areas/small hands working the machines, and they did not think anything of them being put to work. They were not smart or old enough to complain and see that they should not be working.
ReplyDeleteWomen also did not have it easy and were put to work.
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