Feminist concerns were far-reaching, touching various sectors of society including the Labor market. One major part of the feminist movement was labor organizing and the fight for better working conditions under the equal rights amendment which didn’t allow discrimination on the basis of one’s sex (male or female). Labor organizing was one of the major points of the feminist movement and obtaining equal rights.
These aspects of the movement are discussed in depth in the video The Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire and in the article “Virginia Just Became the 30th State to Pass the Equal Rights Amendment: Heres What To Know About The ERA”. The Video on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire discusses one of the biggest preventable tragedies of the industrial revolution.
This fire took place in new york near Washington square park in the triangle shirtwaist factory. Described by the video as a sweatshop the factory was consistently packed and dense with over 500 employees and extreme shifts ranging anywhere between 11-12 hours a day every day. The factory had extremely unsafe conditions and the overall workspace was not regulated properly. The majority of these workers were women, the majority immigrants but still working women, sewing shirtwaists day in and day out for mass production. Unfortunately on March 25th, 1911, the end of the workweek, tragedy struck the factory. A fire started and there was no way to put the fire out because the water hose was rusted shut and rotted away. With no sprinkler system in place, the fire spread quickly.
The building was equipped with one fire escape which collapsed as it could not take the weight of so many people and of the four elevators only one operated in the entire building, breaking down after 4 trips. Many jumped to their deaths while some attempted to take the stairs but to their demise the factory kept exit doors locked shut from the opposite side. While fighter fighters tried to put out the fire their hoses were just a floor too short. While some opted to jump out of the building ending their own lives many died in the fire or were crushed in the chaos to escape, killing a total of 146 people in 18 minutes. One of the deadliest workplace incidents to ever take place.
Sparking public outrage, this incident led to major funeral protests about workplace conditions with more than 350,000 individuals taking the streets to advocate on behalf of those who lost their lives. The factory owners although indicted for manslaughter were found not guilty Despite this unfortunate ending this fire did bring about change in the labor force and the growth of labor unions that advocated to protect workers. This fire led to many of the code requirements workplaces have today that require businesses to be up to a particular standard before an operation to ensure the safety of workers in the future.
In terms of women’s rights, this incident was another factor that pushed women to continue to fight for equal rights and protection in the workplace under the law. However, even making this change has been a long time coming and a long way to go The Equal Rights Amendment has first proposed nearly a century ago and has still not been added to the U.S. Constitution but is upheld by states – it is not enforced federally. In 2019 Virginia became the 38th state to pass the amendment meaning there are several states that are still behind the times. This amendment is crucial not only to women but to society as a whole. If we seek to put an end to disasters and incidents at the hands of oppression then such amendments are necessary to be enforced. Without such legislation companies and individuals will continue to carry on their behavior in ways they see fit because there is no level of accountability on remembrance of the lives that were lost nearly 100 years ago it is time for true federal change across the board. Equal rights should not be optional.
