== Virginia Penny – Watchmaking, 1863 ==

== Virginia Penny – Watchmaking, 1863 ==

In the watchmaking article (151-152), I noticed a lot of similarities between the descriptions of the usage of women to work on watches in comparison to using women in the Lowell mills.  The women tend to be more dexterous and can work on smaller, more detailed objects and therefore were more often and willingly hired to work in these situations. It also shows a little bit of the transfer from the apprenticeship/master to the factory—it was frustrating to lose women to marriage in watch making because learning those skills took a long time but as soon as they learned them, the women went off to be married, but in the Lowell system, sending women off to be married was not a problem because they were doing unskilled labor. --Sara Krechel

'''In the watchmaking article (151-152), I noticed a lot of similarities between the descriptions of the usage of women to work on watches in comparison to using women in the Lowell mills.''' The women tend to be more dexterous and can work on smaller, more detailed objects and therefore were more often and willingly hired to work in these situations. It also shows a little bit of the transfer from the apprenticeship/master to the factory—it was frustrating to lose women to marriage in watch making because learning those skills took a long time but as soon as they learned them, the women went off to be married, but in the Lowell system, sending women off to be married was not a problem because they were doing unskilled labor. --Sara Krechel

I found it very interesting that women were hired because they were more dexterous with their hands and could do certain jobs easier than men, but they still were not paid as well. I know that women in general were not seen as efficient as men, but their reasoning for not paying as well seems faulty. Just becuase they are not doing labor that is physically as hard, they were still more efficient than the men at the jobs they were doing. If pay was measured in dexterity the women would have been making more. --Meagan B.

I found it very interesting that '''women were hired because they were more dexterous with their hands and could do certain jobs easier than men, but they still were not paid as well. I know that women in general were not seen as efficient as men, but their reasoning for not paying as well seems faulty. Just becuase they are not doing labor that is physically as hard, they were still more efficient than the men at the jobs they were doing. If pay was measured in dexterity the women would have been making more.''' --Meagan B.

I agree with everything above but I also noticed the brief mention of "Nine tenths are American born." It struck me as rather odd. On one hand it shows the reluctance in accepting immigrants; on the other hand I would've thought that immigrants would have been hired more because the belief that they would  accept a lower pay than other workers (and thus frequently used as Scabs.)- Megan Mc.

I agree with everything above but I also noticed the brief mention of "Nine tenths are American born." It struck me as rather odd. On one hand it shows the reluctance in accepting immigrants; on the other hand I would've thought that immigrants would have been hired more because the belief that they would  accept a lower pay than other workers (and thus frequently used as Scabs.)- Megan Mc.

This article interested me in the sense the jobs that women had.  Doing the "smaller" work that required steadier and smaller hands as compared to a man.  Women were left for the less strenuous work along with raising children in some cases.  But women had to learn the craft and use it to adapt to the kind of work they were required to do.  It fascinated me how important women were and still are to society.  It is most certainly true that women can do some work that men definitely could not.  This made women more important to society and culture.  -Jeff R.

This article interested me in the sense the jobs that women had.  Doing the "smaller" work that required steadier and smaller hands as compared to a man.  Women were left for the less strenuous work along with raising children in some cases.  But women had to learn the craft and use it to adapt to the kind of work they were required to do.  It fascinated me how important women were and still are to society.  It is most certainly true that women can do some work that men definitely could not.  This made women more important to society and culture.  -Jeff R.

The watchmakers were very talented men and women.  I was not aware that women were allowed to make watches during this time.  It makes sense, their hands and fingers were smaller than a man’s.  I also got a giggle that the reason why they hired these women was because they would want to marry soon and they would not need extra training.  I wonder if a female did not want to get married would they force the female out at a certain point or would they treat the female like they would treat the male?--Pam Petzold

The watchmakers were very talented men and women.  I was not aware that women were allowed to make watches during this time.  It makes sense, their hands and fingers were smaller than a man’s.  I also got a giggle that the reason why they hired these women was because they would want to marry soon and they would not need extra training.  '''I wonder if a female did not want to get married would they force the female out at a certain point or would they treat the female like they would treat the male?'''--Pam Petzold

This was a really interesting read because it made me realize the changing roles of women workers. The reading mentions, "They are preferred to men, on account of their being naturally more dexterous with their fingers, and therefore being found to require less training," (p. 152). This really shows the difference between European watch manufacturing and the American system of watch manufacturing. In the American system, it does not matter that women are "naturally more dexterous with their fingers" because of the idea of interchangeable parts and machinery had already effected the manufacturing of products. It is interesting to see this difference in workers gender because where the European women are seen as useful workers, American women are not because they do not intend to work once they are married, so it is pointless to hire and train them if they are not going to stay for awhile. And while it is useful to hire women, just because they are the cheaper labor, they still are not able to reach higher posts than those of men. --Claire Brooks

This was a really interesting read because it made me realize the changing roles of women workers. The reading mentions, "They are preferred to men, on account of their being naturally more dexterous with their fingers, and therefore being found to require less training," (p. 152). '''This really shows the difference between European watch manufacturing and the American system of watch manufacturing. In the American system, it does not matter that women are "naturally more dexterous with their fingers" because of the idea of interchangeable parts and machinery had already effected the manufacturing of products. It is interesting to see this difference in workers gender because where the European women are seen as useful workers, American women are not because they do not intend to work once they are married, so it is pointless to hire and train them if they are not going to stay for awhile. And while it is useful to hire women, just because they are the cheaper labor, they still are not able to reach higher posts than those of men.''' --Claire Brooks