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History Of The Washerwoman/Laundress Strike Of 1881

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Domestic Labor Strikes of 1881 included laundresses, hotel workers, and many more. But one of the bigger strikes of 1881 was the Washerwoman/ Laundress strike. The washerwoman strike of 1881 affected laundresses worldwide and future laundresses . In 1881 Atlanta, Georgia laundry was and is a big part of staying hygienic. During 1881 laundry work was one of the first chores that some women could afford to have someone do it for them. By this time north Atlanta was all about commercialized laundry, and the south still had/used washerwoman/laundresses. These washerwoman/laundresses worked extremely long hours for very low wages such as; four dollars for up to two months of long work days. After slavery was abolished (in 1807) One third of either non-slave/or ex-slave black women raised families alone. Due to this laundresses and washerwoman had many chances of work. …show more content…

Throughout the week the washerwoman/laundresses had to carry gallons of water from wells and pumps to use for washing. Many washerwoman/ laundresses were not given any soap. Due to that washerwoman/laundresses made their own soap out of lye and starch. A normal week for a laundress/ washerwoman included working everyday (a seven day workweek), very little respect, and low wages. This work was usually accompanied with other jobs. Ninety- eight percent of the black women cooked, cleaned, washed clothes, and nannied in white households. For washerwoman/laundresses these were not ideal work

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I was surprised too of how much clothe they wash for so little pay that they receive for it. I understand why they did the strike it was unfair to get pay that they were bing pay. When they strike “They sought higher pay, respect and autonomy over their work and established a uniform rate at $1 per dozen pounds of wash” (Atlanta’s Washerwomen Strike). Now a days it does not seem like a lot of money but back then it was better than what they were getting pay. They deserve better pay because what they do its hard work.

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But most black women did as much work as black men, and “endured the brutal punishment meted out by slaveholders and their overseers,” they were also required to fulfill their jobs as mothers. As slaves, they struggled against the double discrimination having to take the maltreat given to all African-Americans as well as the one given to women in

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Specifically, southern white women used this period to elevate their social status so that they could climb the social tower to gain power and compare to men. Southern women wanted to get out of the ideal that women should only be housewives, so they used slaves to relieve themselves of house chores, which brought them away from just being housewives. This elevated them socially because instead of being ridden with housework, they were give leisure time and time to focus on their husbands and wives. Slaves were thought to benefit because slave owners would take care of the slaves and that they would be better off being a slave than running around Africa. Slave owners would give slaves food, shelter, and clothing, take care of their children, and teach them christianity (Jones, 102).

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More job opportunities began to open up therefore, there was an increased need for skilled workers. Companies thought it was a great idea to hire African Americans who would be more than willing to work, grant them a smaller pay and have their business continue to thrive in the prosperous decade. The white leaders of the industry often took advantage of policies to ensure that African Americans would be confined to the least desirable jobs with the lowest wages (Phillips 33). Within the jobs, workers would also be faced with discrimination. The African Americans would receive death threats in their place of work almost daily and were made to feel as if they were only there to benefit the economy (Phillips 39) For many years in American History, African Americans only received training to be skilled workers, as it didn 't seem necessary for them to receive any further education (Blanton 1).

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As miserable as it is to be a slave in the South, being a black women worsens the condition. The role of a black women in both the Union and the Confederacy have always been portrayed and elaborated on the orthodox that black women are meant for manual labor, for being tools and for assisting men. However, black women in the South are treated much harsher of course. Majority of black women enslaved were vulnerable to rape, physical abuse and having their families taken away. While the Confederacy took black male slaves into the camp, black women were left to care for their children themselves while managing their plantations and other labor.

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