Many people are uneasy at the employment of a large number of women in wage-earning positions (probably about 33% of those between 15-24). Economic changes have taken women's work from the home to the shop; the home is still the center, but has become the center of consumption instead of production, thus losing many of its educational functions. It has therefore become necessary for girls to take up definite work outside the home, to gain mental and moral discipline resulting from the performance of regular duties and save them from seeking idle tasks to fill idle days.

A woman's work is the same source of strength and pleasure  as to a man; self-respect is deepened by economic independence and her true womanliness is only fully revealed when every power is given opportunity for exercise. But this ideal has yet to be realized.

In partial adjustment to new conditions, abuses have arisen: the remedy is not in restriction, but in liberty, provided that protection is given to children, that a good primary training followed by vocational training is open to all, and that reasonable hours, sanitary surroundings and fair renumeration are secured for all alike through legislation.

Women in Clerical Positions: There is a constant demand for stenographers and clerks in business and professional firms and within the last few years this has extended to banks. Clerical work is congenial, the surroundings are generally comparatively good, the hours of employment reasonable, and the chance of a living wage and of steady employment is afforded. Women who have received a good secondary education and are well grounded in English, and who have had thorough business training, have no difficulty whatever in obtaining good employment. Women employed in banks make $400 to $500 a year; stenographers earn from $600 to $1,200 although  young girls may begin at $25.00 a month. In this group of wage earners have been included telephone operators. In Montreal there are at least 800 women employed who earn $20.00 to $80.00 a month.

Saleswomen in Shops: In the higher grade department stores there are very few girls of 14 years of age, and these few work as errand girls.  In less high grade shops, younger girls may be seen. Shop girls generally have an elementary education; they can generally read, write and do some arithmetic The shop-girl has clearly defined duties and her hours of work have a definite limit, usually 8 in the morning to 5 or 6 at night. At work she is under the same discipline as her associates but after she leaves work she is practically free to choose her own society.  She considers that her position is superior to a domestic servant, and as evidence she is addressed as Miss while servants are addressed by their Christian names.  She is required to stand the whole day long; frequently the ventilation is bad. He wage is barely sufficient for her maintenance. In her leisure hour, she naturally seeks recreation, only to find that recreation of a desirable nature is offered at prohibitive prices.  And thus it is that in an innocent search for pleasure natural to all, she is frequently exposed to temptations of a particularly insidious nature, the true character of which she sometimes doesn't recognize until it's too late. There should be social clubs for working girls, affording parlours and halls where innocent and desirable recreations might be provided.

Women in Industrial Establishments: In most of the industries there is little demand on the part of the employers for girls under the legal limit. Often the work is too heavy for young girls. In some instances, no effort is made to ascertain the ages of the younger employees. This is especially the case in large mills and in these cases the labor laws need enforcing. Most factory workers are illiterate. The minimum wage in factories is about $2.00 a week (occasionally as low as $1.75.) for untrained hands.  To earn an independent living a person would need 7.00  a week (a room alone can cost 3 to 4 dollars a week) so most girls live at home. Once trained, most girls go onto piece work, so only a few very make a good amount of money--and there is no chance of promotion. In millinery, girls are paid nothing or just car money to start, but skilled workers can make 1.00 to 10.50 per week; really skilled workers 11.00 to 25.00.  Custom tailoring pays well but there are too few skilled workers available. Also needed are skilled leather workers, needle workers,  and laundresses. Click here to read synopsis of Angels of the Workplace about Canadian garment workers 1890-1940

Nurses: There are about 351 trained nurses carrying out their profession in Montreal, of these, 35 have maternity training only and 85 are from hospitals in other cities. Three years is the general course. Applicants generally enter hospitals directly from their homes, a few have been teachers or stenographers. All must posses a good grammar school or equivalent, preference given to those who have taken a course in domestic science.  The addition of Elementary Chemistry, Physiology and Hygiene to school courses would be helpful.  There are many untrained nurses in Montreal.

Domestic Service: We believe there are about 8000 maid servants in Montreal. The returns of the immigration agencies show that the 3364 women and girls who arrived in Montreal during the past year, 1001 remain in the city, the majority entering domestic service. There is a difficulty in securing competent domestics, especially cooks; Employers prefer experienced, well-trained maids. The wages offered vary from $8.00 to $10.00 per month for untrained girls to $40.00 per month for a first class cook.