THE GIRL IN INDUSTRY
"The adolescent stage of life has long seemed tome one of the most fascinating of all themes, moreworthy, perhaps, than anything in the world ofreverence, most inviting study, and in most cryingneed of a service we do not yet understand how torender aright."
G. Stanley Hall, Adolescence, I. xix.
THE GIRL IN INDUSTRY
BY
D. J. COLLIER
WITH A FOREWORD AND INTRODUCTION BY
B. L. HUTCHINS
AUTHOR OF "WOMEN IN MODERN INDUSTRY"
LONDON
G. BELL AND SONS, LTD.
1918
CONTENTS
| page | |
| Foreword. B. L. Hutchins | v |
| Introduction. B. L. Hutchins | ix |
| Part I. Investigation. D. J. Collier | 1 |
| Part II. Recommendations. D. J. Collier | 49 |
| Table I. | 55 |
| Table II. | 56 |
FOREWORD
The problem of the adolescent at work is a verycomplex one; not only the economic, but also theeducational, physiological, and biological reactionsof industrial work have to be considered. Thepresent work does not attempt anything like a comprehensivediscussion of the subject; it is merelya small contribution to existing knowledge of thefacts in regard to one section only: the physiologicaleffects of industrial work on growing girls.
The young, it is often said, are the nation'scapital. If by this we merely mean that they arethe force by which the material goods of the futurewill be produced, our view of life is inadequateand rather brutal, but if the words are given ahigher and more spiritual sense they become full ofsignificance. Youth is the future: from amongthe young of to-day the parents, citizens, leaders,prophets, artists of the next generation will arise.Work at this age should be considered not only forthe shillings it will immediately produce, but partlyfor its effects on the worker's productive powerlater on, partly for its effects on character, physique,mind. Dr. Stanley Hall says of modern industry:"Not only have the forms of labour been radically[Pg vi]changed within a generation or two, but the basalactivities that shaped the body of primitive manhave been suddenly swept away by the new methodsof modern industry.... Work is rigidly bound tofixed hours, uniform s