Making Both Ends Meet: The Income and Outlay of New York Working Girls

A social study published in the early 20th century. The book examines the economic realities faced by self-supporting women workers in New York City, specifically focusing on their income, expenses, and the working conditions they endure. The study aims to shed light on the struggles of various working women, such as saleswomen and factory workers, and the broader implications of their experiences on society. The opening of this work outlines the purpose of the study initiated by the National Consumers' League to investigate the financial and social conditions of women workers. It discusses the methodology employed by the authors in collecting data from interviews and personal accounts of the lives of these women. The first chapter specifically highlights the experiences of saleswomen, detailing their low wages, long hours, and the challenges they face in making a living. One narrative shared is that of Lucy Cleaver, who illustrates the hardships of balancing a meager income with the high costs of living in New York, providing a human face to the economic statistics. The authors utilize these accounts to paint a vivid picture of the larger social issues impacting the working-class women of their time.