The mill girls worked primarily in textile mills during the Industrial Revolution, where they operated machinery like looms and spindles to produce fabric and other goods. Often young and unmarried, they endured long hours in challenging conditions, typically under strict supervision. Their labor was crucial in transforming raw cotton into finished textiles, contributing significantly to the industrial economy. Many mill girls also formed social movements advocating for better working conditions and labor rights.
mill-girls
14 hours a day.
Young single woman left their rural homes to work as mill girls in factory towns to earn money and gain independence.
Young single woman left their rural homes to work as mill girls in factory towns to earn money and gain independence.
they fired the girls
Mill owners had to offer high wages to attract women to work as mill girls because the labor market was competitive and many women had other options, such as domestic work or family responsibilities. Additionally, the physically demanding and often harsh conditions of mill work made it less appealing, necessitating higher pay to entice women to leave their homes and join the workforce. The promise of financial independence and better living standards also played a role in drawing women to these jobs, despite the challenges.
Lowell mill girls typically earned between $2 to $4 per week during the 19th century. Their wages varied based on the type of work they performed and the specific mill they worked in. While this pay was relatively good for women at the time, it was still significantly lower than what men earned for similar work. Many of the girls lived in company boarding houses, which also deducted costs from their wages.
Francis Cabot Lowell had a textile mill he founded after him known as a Lowell Mill in 1826. Recruiters, mostly men, encouraged young girls, mostly between sixteen to thirty six, to work in the mills.
wage cuts
Most of the Lowell Mill Girls were between the ages of 15 to 35 years old. Many of them were young women in their late teens or early twenties.
lowell mill girls
2-4 dollars a week