1943 Guide to Hiring Women

[Bumper]

1943 GUIDE TO HIRING WOMEN
(WHO SAYS YOU HAVEN'T COME A LONG WAY, BABY?)

The following is an excerpt from the July 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine. This was serious and written for male supervisors of women in the work force during World War II - a mere 58 years ago! Obviously, the intent was not be "funny," but by today's standards, this is hilarious! For those of you with efficiency issues, pay attention to #8.

Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women Employees:

There is no longer any question whether transit companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men. The draft and manpower shorrtage has settled that point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and how to use them to the best advantage. Here are eleven helpful tips on the subject:

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.

[Chilepepper]

How funny!! I wonder what kind of physical examination they were referring to?

[Mindbender]

Fascinating - thanks Bumper.

[SunKneeMarie]

wow, wow and wow

unfortunately, I think I might know the guy who penned that guide

[monte]

thats funny. OK now where is the SOB who wrote this

[Bumper]

Originally Posted by monte

thats funny. OK now where is the SOB who wrote this

Written in 1943 - 65 years ago - so he's likely dead by now. I guess that means you get the last laugh on him.

[Rissask]

I just received this in an e-mail this morning.....funny!

[MikeW]

I didn't think this was funny.
It's the truth.
That's my employees.
Maybe I should hire women

[morphasia]

LOL Geez, am I glad I discovered this forum today!
Signed,
a cantankerous and fussy old broad.

[Mamacita]

Originally Posted by Bumper

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 should put this on my resume - I'm husky, therefore I am even tempered and efficient.

Clearly this was written by someone who had NO CLUE what it was like to manage the home and family at the time. Those women were already working hard!

[morphasia]

Originally Posted by Mamacita

Clearly this was written by someone who had NO CLUE what it was like to manage the home and family at the time. Those women were already working hard!

Isn't it a scream? Don't you feel more confident if you can wash your hands several times a day?

[STOGEY]

Just remeber, it wasn't too many years before this memo came out that they were still using male actors to play in female roles.

[mexigirl]

Bumper, I just read this exact excerpt in my 99's NC Section newsletter last week. It's either making the rounds quickly or you (or your lady friend/spouse) is a 99. Any association with the 99s?

[Bumper]

Originally Posted by mexigirl

Bumper, I just read this exact excerpt in my 99's NC Section newsletter last week. It's either making the rounds quickly or you (or your lady friend/spouse) is a 99. Any association with the 99s?

Sorry, dunno what the 99's is? Is that like "Class of 99" or something? If that's the case, we could only wish. If either of us had gone to college, it would be more like MCMLXIX (We're so old, they would use Roman Numerals.) I've had that piece in my archives for probably 20 years. I collect stuff like that and throw it out from time to time.

[mexigirl]

Originally Posted by Bumper

Sorry, dunno what the 99's is? Is that like "Class of 99" or something? If that's the case, we could only wish. If either of us had gone to college, it would be more like MCMLXIX (We're so old, they would use Roman Numerals.) I've had that piece in my archives for probably 20 years. I collect stuff like that and throw it out from time to time.

LOL. no the 99's has nothing to do with age. It's the international women pilots assn. The name was derived from the total number of women pilots that showed up to the first meeting in 1929. Hmm, were you there?