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The Work and Wages of Single Women, 1870-1920

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Golding_WorkWages.pdf (2.44 MB)

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1980

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10.1017/S0022050700104565

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Cambridge University Press
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Goldin, Claudia. 1980. The work and wages of single women, 1870-1920. Journal of Economic History 40(1): 81-88.

Abstract

Single women dominated the U.S. female labor force from 1870 to 1920. Data on the home life and working conditions of single women in 1888 and 1907 enable the estimation of their earnings functions. Work in the manufacturing sector for these women was task-oriented and payment was frequently by the piece. Earnings rose steeply with experience and peaked early; learning was mainly on-the-job. Occupational segregation by sex was a partial product of the method of payment, and the early termination of human capital investment was a function of the life-cycle labor force participation of these women, although the role of the family was also critical.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.3386/w0375

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http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:2643864

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The Work and Wages of Single… : DASH Story 2013-03-30
I'm doing research for a novel to be set in the 1890's. Needed some idea of single women's job options. Thank you for making this information available.
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I am an English actress researching women in education for a stage production of The Great Gatsby in London. This is an ideal documentation source.
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The Work and Wages of Single… : DASH Story 2014-03-10
I am a part-time lecturer in US history. I like to improve my lecture notes and keep them up to date with new research. I'm no longer affiliated with a research institution, so places like this are the only way for me to gain access to the latest research. Thank you.
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It allows me to make an intelligent and accurate statement of facts about women's work in the upcoming exhibit I am creating.