Prior to the beginning of the in places like this village in the southeastern part of England, people often worked at home to supplement their income. This type of work was collectively known as a “Cottage Industry”. One very common commodity was spinning and weaving wool into cloth that could be made into clothing. Over time, the small looms grew in size until they no longer could be powered by people. The first water powered mill in North America was built by Samuel Slater in Pawtucket Village, , in 1793. Visit this historical site at http://www.slatermill.org/ During the 1820s to the 1840s textile mills sprang up in Lowell, MA in rapid succession. By 1850 there were 10 large mill complexes employing some 10,000 people, mostly young women. Power from the waterwheel, and later, turbines, was transferred by a network of rotating gears or by a leather belt and pulley system eventually connecting to the . By 1875, Lowell’s mills used mostly steam power. A specially wound and easily replaced bobbin fits in a shuttle (the wooden object on the left) and unwinds its yarn as it moves across the loom. Sometimes the “” would skip off its track and shoot out of the side of the as a dangerous missile. The Mill Girls

In the early to mid 1800s, Lowell had the largest concentration of industry in the . Workers were attracted by recruiting ads like this. • Gender subjugation MILL GIRLS: – Women had limited rights (but CULTURAL opportunity for independence) IDEAS OF THE – poverty TIMES • Respectability – To avoid an “unsullied reputation”, there will be “no intemperance, rowdiness, illicit relations with men…(and) • Religious worship – …habitual absence from worship on the Sabbath was grounds for dismissal…” • Transition to urbanism – New ways of speaking, dressing, and thinking MILL GIRLS: • New urban relationships STATUS AND – Separation from family; ROLE immigrants • Collective action – Independence movements lead to strikes • Mill Girl status – lowest of the jobs available to women. – Marriage options different • New roles – doffers (child workers), single women, daughters, caregivers • The majority of mill girls in Lowell lived in boardinghouses. – Usually they shared a room with MILL GIRLS: SOCIAL four other women, often ECOLOGY immigrants, sleeping two to a bed. Little privacy. – $12 month, room and board (3 meals) costs $5 month • life – Work up to 14 hours per day beginning at 4:30 – Stand by machine all day – Windows nailed shut (to protect yarn) – Air filled with lint – Extreme noise • City life – Social, cultural opportunities MORE MILL GIRLS Sociological analysis of the Mill Girls

Functionalist: Conflict: Symbolic Interaction: •How does the factory •Are the relationships •How are the Mill Girls system work? between owners or perceived by •In what way are the managers and members of the Mill Girls a significant workers fair or community and what part of it? exploitive? are the •What do they do to •How does the consequences? contribute to the exercise of power •What are the origins community? work? of the labeling and is it •What are the •Do workers have a accurate? challenges to maintain right to negotiate, •What personal the system, such as unionize, or strike? changes are likely to recruitment and •How are occur due to the newly training? disagreements formed relationships? resolved?