Woman and Child Wage Earners: Adrift, 1907 [New York City and Philadelphia]

This data collection contains information on women workers living apart from their families, or "adrift," in New York City and Philadelphia. It is similar in origin to the WOMAN AND CHILD WAGE EARNERS (ICPSR 20702), WOMAN AND CHILD WAGE EARNERS, MARRIED (ICPSR 20720), and WOMAN AND CHILD WAGE EARNERS, WORKING WOMEN IN NEW YORK CITY LIVING AT HOME (ICPSR 20721) data collections. Somewhat more comprehensive information exists for it than for the ICPSR 20721 sample, which is very similar in content. The data for this sample were collected for women living apart from their families of origin. Variables include: age, work experience, ethnicity, average weekly earnings, and whether the place of work was a store or manufacturing enterprise. In addition to these variables there is information on years of schooling, weekly expenditures for car fare, shelter and food, and remittances home or contributions to other relatives. It should be emphasized that the respondents were asked about their years of schooling. The education variable, therefore, is not derived but was given by the women, which is quite extraordinary for the period. Additionally, there is no information on the marital status of these women. It is presumed that they are either unmarried, widowed, or divorced (or separated) because they are all living apart from other family members.