Wednesday July 11, 1906
From the International Socialist Review – The London Shop Girl’s Life

“Living In.”

TO BE sure we all ‘live in.’ Do not the American girls?” was the remark made by a young woman in one of the large stores in the center of London, when I asked her as to the life of English shop girls. Further conversation with London shop “assistants” many of whom had spent several years in that position brought out a series of facts concerning the life of this class that is utterly different from anything in the American mercantile industry. Though much may be said concerning the need of the American shop girl, for seats, short hours, etc., the English assistants, besides having all these to secure has yet other troubles which are peculiarly their own. However long the hours or annoying the “floor-walker” may be to the American girl, when business closes at night she is at last free to seek her own home or to visit her acquaintances, as she may desire. Not so with the English assistant; her eating, drinking, and sleeping, equally with her work are under the close supervision of the employer.
Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: May Wood Simons on the Life of the London Shop Girl, “Living In”” →