Women in Furniture Factories

February 24th, 2014

During WWI when women were first talked about as possible workers in the furniture factories, many of the manufacturers scoffed at the idea.

Transcript

During WWI when women were first talked about as possible workers in the furniture factories, many of the manufacturers scoffed at the idea. Some declared openly that women couldn’t make good furniture workers; making furniture was a man’s job. But they were forced to it eventually. They discovered the women not only could do some portions of the work just as well as men, but sometimes even better.

Due to a shortage of labor following the war, few factories displaced the women they already employed. Moreover, the women were highly efficient, and since they were drawing the same pay as the men, there seemed to be no reason why they should not be employed if they desired it.

As sanders, rubbers, finishers, etc. the women did excellent work. At many tasks they were put opposite the men so that the men could handle the heavy work and the women the lighter end.

It was not an infrequent occurrence that women applied for jobs as cabinetmakers, and to the surprise of many a manufacturer they discovered the women were just as expert in cabinet work as the men, and moreover they were always careful and painstaking in their work.

“I’m keeping all my women workers.” Said one manufacturer. “The women are a big success in the furniture business so far as I can see.”