Motivation to Determination

In the start of the Industrial Revolution most girls were very motivated to go and work in Lowell. It was exciting to get away from farm life and go into the city. Young girls wanted to experience city life and meet new people. They would be able to make their own money and buy things they wanted. It was also beneficial to the families as well. The girls would send some of their pay back to their families on the farm. Girls were motivated to work in Lowell also because it gave them a sense of independence. Even though they had a strict work ethic and schedule they still had their own independence outside of the mills.  Being away from their families and out on their own was very appealing to them.


Although there were benefits there were also some costs as well. Aside from the girls leaving their comfort zone the work in the mills was very dangerous and loud. Lots of people got injured or even killed. Many got sick or lost their hearing and had many other health issues. It was very easy to get in trouble while working. A lot of the overseers were rude and strict and if they thought you weren't doing your work fast enough or good enough you could get in trouble or even beat. Working in the mills too long could even damage your reputation; that would mean that you are old and no man would want to marry you.


Women were not taken as seriously as men during this time. Factory owners started to lower wages and increase productions thinking that the girls would not say anything about it but they would not stand for it. The girls help a protest against the factories and many observers and owners were surprised by this. These girls were determined to stand up for themselves and not go to work but they quickly got replaced by other girls from the county side. Two years later another strike happened against the rise in boarding prices and this time with better organization and stronger relationships between the girls the owners were defeated and had to accommodate the girls wants. These protest seemed very 'unladylike' but the girls defended themselves saying that the factory owners 'enslaved' them and that they had independence and could stand up for themselves because they were "the daughters of free men". These actions set the road for future feminists and gender equality.