1943 Guide to Hiring Women
OMG! As if the 1953 Good Wife’s Guide article in Good Housekeeping Magazine wasn’t enough to make me laugh out loud. Check this out: “1943 Guide to Hiring Women”.
The following is an excerpt from the July 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine. This was written for male supervisors of women in the work force during World War II.
Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women Employees: There’s no longer any question whether transit companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men. The draft and manpower shortage has settled that point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and how to use them to the best advantage.
Here are eleven helpful tips on the subject from Western Properties:
1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters, they’re less likely to be flirtatious, they need the work or they wouldn’t be doing it, they still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently.
2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It’s always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.
3. General experience indicates that “husky” girls - those who are just a little on the heavy side - are more even tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.
4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination - one covering female conditions. This step not only protects the property against the possibilities of lawsuit, but reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job.
5. Stress at the outset the importance of time the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up.
6. Give the female employee a definite day-long schedule of duties so that they’ll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.
7. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change.
8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.
9. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can’t shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman - it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.
10. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl’s husband or father may swear vociferously, she’ll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.
11. Get enough size variety in operator’s uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can’t be stressed too much in keeping women happy.”
I’m speechless….. have women come a long way or what?!?
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August 7th, 2008 at 6:06 am
As a Body Image/Self Esteem expert, I adore this list. It really does show just how far women have progressed along the path to enlightenment, Rebel Belle joyful expression and what I like to call Juicy Woman, Lovin’ the skin you’re in stature.
I especially love #2 because it makes me realize that ‘cantankerous and fussy’ can be a wonderful thing. Self expression is good for the soul!
I guess for far too long, like so many other women, I was buying into the old paradigm of being a “good girl” trying so hard not to step on anyone’s toes or break any egg shells. Now I know that was the reason why I’ve struggled with my weight for the majority of my life until I learned the value of being a Juicy Woman and breaking free of the “good girl” in me.
Now, hell it’s so much fun being sassy and loud and leaving my footprints all over the place, I can’t imagine ever living life any other way.
From what I’ve learned on this subject, it all comes down to how much self esteem we have and how we value and think about ourselves. Our self esteem affects all of our relationships, internal and external. It runs our lives, our choices and our bodies.
As a woman who’s leading a perceptual revolution and learning and teaching others how to make peace with their bodies and stop fearing food, I’ve discovered the path to self love and acceptance comes by choice rather than default.
Most women think that they can’t possibly love their bodies. They focus on the flaws and the imperfections, the bumps, lumps and dings and can’t see beyond them. I used to think the same way. Then I learned some valuable lessons that I now share with other women.
You don’t have to wait until you lose weight to love yourself . That’’s all backwards, straight out of 1943. Then we didn’t understand the body/mind connection. Now in 2008, we do. Your thoughts shape your reality.
You first start by loving and accepting yourself and then you get thinner. First you take care of yourself, nurture your body, then as a result of doing that your self esteem goes up. When self esteem is raised, your appetite and weight go down naturally. What a mind blowing lesson!
I also love #3 because it reminds me that women who are also shaped like me, who are “husky” (as the magazine puts it) are supposed to be more ‘even tempered and efficient’.
Yowie! What a load of bull! The sad news is as I’ve learned after taking big steps to break free of my life long struggle with dieting and hating my body; without coping directly with your stress and dealing with your bugaboos, and learning how to make peace with and trust yourself around food, you’ll always be stuck living in a skin that you won’t want to love, because you’ll resent the fact that you feel inhibited. Give yourself permission to say whatever is on your mind, whenever you want to. One of my mentors, Dr. Nancy Bonus, the creator of The Beyond Dieting Program says, “Say it or stuff it.” “Express it or wear it.” How many times do we want to tell someone off and instead we reach for a packet of oreos to sit and stuff our emotions?
It’s no wonder those ‘husky girls’ mentioned in the magazine are husky. If only they would be a bit more cantankerous and fussy, that would quickly change. At least that’s what I’ve learned the hard way. Great article, Rebel Belle!
Much love,
Andrea
August 7th, 2008 at 6:22 am
Hi my fabulous Juicy Woman “bellefriend”. I love your responses. Especially the “Hell it’s so much fun being sassy and loud and leaving my footprints all over the place, I can’t imagine ever living life any other way.” Touche’ and a Rebel Belle Yell! for boldness, authenticy and truth. You rock my world.
I’d love for you to post this response over at the Rebel Belle facebook group!!
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=10377403774&topic=4968
August 13th, 2008 at 10:40 am
1943 Guide to Hiring Women
The following is an excerpt from the July 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine. This was written for male supervisors of women in the work force during World War II. (Thanks to Tuck Self, The Rebel Belle, for discovering this).
Eleven Tips on Getting …
August 13th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Hey Joan…thanks for your reference and addition to my post on your blog. I LOVE your blog, especially the red. I’ll be adding you to my blogroll. Rock and blog on!