Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN DOMESTIC SCIENCESource: Monthly Review of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Vol. 4, No. 4 (APRIL, 1917), pp.570-572Published by: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of LaborStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41823374 .

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570 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN DOMESTIC SCIENCE.

Domestic science as a profession is a development of recent years. That it offers for women attractive opportunities and a gradually widening field of endeavor seems apparent from the increasing num- bers who are entering it as a vocation, and the fact that many tech- nical schools and colleges are offering special courses in home eco- nomics to a constantly increasing enrollment. To ascertain the best line of approach to this new profession, the different lines of work that are open, and the demands made by them, and what the pro- fession offers in advancement and development, a study was under- taken in the fall of 1914 by the Women's Educational and Indus- trial Union of Boston, with the cooperation of the National Associa- tion of Collegiate Alumnae and the American Home Economics Asso- ciation, the results of which are presented in a pamphlet1 recently published.

There appears to be ample opportunity, for those who desire, to enter upon a course of instruction in domestic science, including all activities having to do with food and with household and institu- tional management. Thirty colleges, fairly well distributed geo- graphically exceptan the far West and South, were found repre- sented in the 964 replies as to preparation received. Fifty-eight per cent of those reporting received their instruction in the large group of technical institutions of college rank and these represent "the better prepared, more highly educated women in the profession of domestic science." Instruction in domestic science was received by 362 women in the institutes and extension courses, which emphasize the practical side of the training. Practically all of the colleges and institutions require high-school training. It was found that 550 women, or 54.5 per cent, of those holding domestic science positions had received no education beyond the high-school course before

undertaking professional training, but that a very large proportion of the 964 (745 or 77.3 per cent) had pursued studies leading to a

degree, certificate, or diploma, and that 323, or 33.5 per cent, had attained degrees, of whom 114 had received a college degree previous to the professional course. There seemed to be general satisfaction with the courses offered, although in reply to specific questions on this point quite a number indicated a desire for more practical ex-

periènce in connection with the studies and a better foundation in the sciences. Most of the women (77 per cent) claimed some or much advantage gained from home occupations.

The data as to salaries received by women in the profession of domestic science are presented in a series of tables showing the

1 Opportunities for Women in Domestic Science, by Marie Francké. A. B. Association of Collegiate Alumnae, Philadelphia, 1916. 64 pp.

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MONTHLY BEVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 571

relation of previous experience to the initial salary, the initial salary received according to the type of work, the increase in salary with years of experience for a 10-year period, the final salary of 960 women according to the type of work and length of experience, the relation of age and experience to final salary in teaching and man- agerial positions, and the relation of training to salaries. It seems that one-half of the women considered received initial salaries rang- ing from $600 to $1,000, the greatest number being in the $600 to $700 group; that the first salaries in managerial work averaged, for the largest group, about $100 more than in teaching; and that in vocational and technical schools the initial salary was greater than in college and academic courses, while hospitals seemed to pay the highest initial salary. The following table shows the number receiv- ing each specified initial salary according to the type of work and the number receiving each specified final salary according to their training: NUMBER IN DOMESTIC SCIENCE POSITIONS RECEIVING EACH SPECIFIED INITIAL SALARY ACCORDING TO TYPE OF WORK, AND NUMBER RECEIVING EACH SPECI- FIED FINAL SALARY ACCORDING TO YEARS OF TRAINING.

Number receiving each Number receiving each final salary, by years of initial salary in- training.

Salary y group. group. Man- M,s" College trained. Institute trained. y group. group. Teach- Man- cella. posi- ous Total. 2d to Over 1t 2d to Over tions- fw uons- ^

ous year- ve£ 5th 5 Total- vear year*

1t 6th 5 Total- uons- tions. year- year, years. vear year* year, years.

$200 and under $300 *2 1 3 11 *2 $300 and under «400 «12 5 17 2 1 *3 $400 and under $500 »41 8 2 51 4 2 »6 5 4 9 $500 and under $600 »79 17 96 11 8 1»20 6 3 2 » 11 $600 and under $700 »155 30 2 187 23 21 3 1 47 4 15 3 » 22 $700 and under $800 »107 54 5 166 10 36 5 51 7 20 6 33 $800 and under $900 76 50 1 127 13 44 8 65 6 29 7 42 $900 and under $1,000 62 39 101 3 40 9 52 7 17 11 35 $1,000 and under $1,100 36 50 1 187 10 39 15 * 64 7 31 15 53 $1,100 and under $1,200.... 16 14 30 5 26 10 41 6 19 11 36 $1,200 and under $1,300.... 16 9 2 27 9 26 15 501 14 23 38 $1,300 and under $1,400.... 2 6 1 9 1 19 15 35 7 15 22 $1,400 and under $1,500.... 2 1 2 5 1 11 6 18 3 7 10 $1,500 and under $1,600.... 1 1 13 13 » 26 1 9 10 $1,600 and under $1,700 2 2 1 6 7 1 2 2 5 $1,700 and under $1,800 1 3 4 1 1 $1,800 and under $1,900 4 9 13 1 1 $1,900 and under $2,000 2 4 6 2 1 3 $2, 000 and under $4, 100.... 1 1 1 1 11 13 7 7 Unclassified 42 7 5 54 4 18 4 26 4 11 9 24

Total 650 293 21 964 98 314 137 549 54 180 128 362 * 1 worked part time. * 3 worked part time. » 2 worked part time.

Of 2,130 regular positions held by 1,028 women, 1,357 were po- sitions in teaching and supervising home economics, of which 32.8 per cent were in the public elementary and secondary schools. The bulk of the salaries ranged between $400 and $1,000, while most of the salaries of teachers in the private schools, numerically much less

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572 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

important, ranged between $300 and $1,300, the median being in the salary group of $700 and under $800. In vocational schools, where 23.1 per cent of the teaching positions were held, the salaries ranged between $300 and $1,500, with the largest number receiving between $600 and $1,100. In extension work, embracing 12.2 per cent of all teaching positions, the initial salaries for the largest number were in the $600 to $700 group. Enumerated in the order of decreasing importance, the managerial positions are offered by educational insti- tutions, philanthropic institutions, hospitals, lunch and tea rooms, and clubs and private homes. These managerial positions may in- volve some teaching, only a small proportion being exclusively managerial. The greatest number of salaries in educational and philanthropic institutions were in the $700 and under $800 group. In hospitals the salaries for initial positions as dieticians ranged from $400 to $1,400, with the median in the $900 to $1,000 class.. This median also applies to those in the lunch and tea room group.

So far as the positions of lecturing, demonstrating, writing, and research work are concerned, it was found that the first two named pay from $75 per month and expenses to $1,800 per annum with

expenses. No estimate is given of the salaries received by those en-

gaged in the other types of domestic science work. It appears that

college-trained women predominate in teaching positions and in

lecturing, demonstrating, writing, and research work, while those trained in the institutes are more frequently to be found in the

managerial positions. The report concludes with the following paragraphs :

With increasing numbers of women entering the profession and with increas- ing scientific knowledge of all that concerns the home and its processes, there has arisen an increasing demand for thorough, specialized training of domestic science workers. The time has passed when any woman of average ability with average home experience can compete professionally with the scientifically trained woman. Side by side, with the broadening foundation in training, whether as cause or as effect, we find a broadening in the field to which that training leads. New types of positions are constantly developing, calling for new qualities and relating to different interests. For example, the woman with special aptitude for social service is not out of place in most domestic science fields, while the woman with decided business ability need not let it rest unused because she is trained for home economics.

From the types of positions which have been enumerated it can be seen that any woman whose interests lie in the sphere of the home has ample opportunity to find the particular channel through which she can best express that interest. At a time when many people are prophesying the downfall of the home as it now exists, the opportunities are constantly increasing for women to build that home and all that it stands for on a-firmer and broader foundation.

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