If the title of this article got you going, I understand. 11 Tips on Getting More Efficiency out of Women Employees was an actual article in the magazine Mass Transportation published in 1943. As checked with Snopes, it is real and here is the cover. (To see the story in full, go to Snopes.com).
What is your reaction to this story? Does any of this occur today in the workplace?
Here is the article with the word "employe" changed to "employee":
1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters. They are less likely to be flirtatious. They need the work, or they would not be doing it. The 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 is 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 will 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 cannot 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 will 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 cannot be stressed too much in keeping women happy.
15 comments:
Quite sexist
Honestly, this is extremely offensive.
This article was from a very different time and shows us all how far things have come. Women had only begun to enter some industries and professions and I see it as a milestone that we (men and women) would be appalled to read something like this today.
I am grateful for all the women who entered the workforce in 1943, those who fought for the right to be employed and be compensated properly. I thank the men and women who worked to change the environment of so many industries for respectful treatment of all coworkers and employees.
Women entered the workforce in large numbers in the US for the first time when the men and boys went off to war in WWII during this time - 1943. These fussy, cantankerous, overly sensitive, initiative lacking, physically inferior and sickly, women did the job of men adequately and with purpose and pride in a job well done. Many assumed jobs previously not open to them due to the sexist culture of the time. Men have a difficult time 'competing' with women and any woman that performs well is perceived as a threat to their masculinity and ego. Sadly, these 1943 stereotype of women as inferior employee are still very apparent in the workplace today. It will continue to take an active cultural shift for male co-workers to accept an equal role for women in the workplace. We are not there yet. Come on guys, lighten up, move over and make room for some excellent co-workers. Besides some of us like to bake and will bring you cookies on your birthday. When was the last time YOU did that? :)
Not much has changed for women since 1943. Young women are preferred over older women. Older women are let go first and the young are kept. Today's young women disdain and scorn older women and think they are wanted based on their skills when really they are only 'around' because they are young. When they start growing older, they will find out it was all a big fat sham. The real problem is that it's not men who doing this to women anymore - it is other women. there is no sisterhood. It's me, myself and I. You don't play the game with women, and you are out. You have a better chance with a male boss than a female one. I know. I had two male bosses and two female bosses. the easiest ones to get along with and respected my skills were the men --- NOT the women. They were merciless, cady and lacking self-esteem and integrity that their male counterparts outranked them in.
Women nature is not any different today, from what it was in 1943 or 1543 nor is it likely to change... their basic drives, likes, dis-likes are still the same. On a conceptual level the article is still very relevant.
I agree some of the article is still valid now. It should be recognised that men and women are different. Although I suspect just as many men show no initiative, they're just more likely to do nothing rather than seek additional work.
There's def still a problem in the workplace with pack mentalities rife.
Incredibly offensive article -- yet this thinking was the norm back then. I'd say that biased cultural assumptions against women are more subtle today and has to do with double standards.
One of the commenter’s says that female bosses can be more difficult on other women than their male counterparts. Women often have to be more aggressive and hard lined to overcome the assumption that we can't be as effective leaders because we have softer voices and demeanors. When women change who they are to succeed, it backfires on them because it damages personal relationships. If a woman is pushy and outspoken she’s a bitch. If a man does it he knows how to take charge. Same old cliché.
I find that my actions and my record speak are not enough on their own. Every time I’ve had a promotion I was actually doing the work before getting the promotion. I’ve notice that as a woman my abilities tend to underestimated more than male co-workers.
Is this a joke???
I agree women have come a long way in the workplace, but a reprint of this article was not really necessary.
This is the dumbest thing I have ever read. I cant believe I actually read the whole thing - after the first paragraph, pick young married women. Are you kidding me?? This whole thing has to be a joke to get us riled up. If it is a sincere post then this site needs to get it's head examined, big time.
BEFORE YOU COMMENT PLEASE READ INTRO TO ARTICLE:
If the title of this article got you going, I understand. 11 Tips on Getting More Efficiency out of Women Employees was an actual article in the magazine Mass Transportation published in 1943. Have nice day.
LOLOLOL!!! Oh come on! Honestly, who couldn't like this pointer.... "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. "
I LOVE it!
The more I read the more I was offended. What year was this taken, can't be 2009...Let's talk about 11 tips on Getting More Efficienty out of Men...
PEOPLE!!!! Most of you have missed the point entirely and should learn how to read and to take a deep breath and check your facts before reacting. It is disappointing that most people reacted to the article, rather than making more interesting observations.
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