Muller v. Oregon: A Brief History with Documents, by Nancy Woloch (TPB, 1996, $1.50)
Muller v. Oregon was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1908. From that point on women in factories and laundries could work only a ten hour day. Reformers had decided not to ask for reform of labor laws that also included men, as it would have been unsuccessful. Instead they made the point that women were at higher risk of injury and illness after long hours than were men, and that as well, the health of women would affect future generations. In the 1960s and 1970s, as a result of the Civil Rights Act and the feminist movement, judgement of the case changed. Prior to 1960, this case was considered a huge win for labor reform. After 1960 it was seen to have set back equal rights by its assumption that women are weaker than men. Actual documents of the time make up more than half of this book. Find this book on the new non-fiction table, avail. 9/19.
