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week_5_questions_comments-325_25 [2025/09/25 04:57] – 76.78.172.56week_5_questions_comments-325_25 [2025/09/25 13:13] (current) – [Henry Mitchell, Penobscot Indian, 1938] 199.111.65.11
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 An important economist and women's rights activist, who used her writings to promote equal pay for women. - Ava B An important economist and women's rights activist, who used her writings to promote equal pay for women. - Ava B
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 +Virginia Penny was an advocate for women workers. She focused her research on gender inequality in the workforce by discussing things such as the working conditions and wages. - Izzy Ellenberger
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 +Women’s natural dexterity made them more preferred for employment in watch making for non-American factories, however, machinery was a much more efficient and cheap way to produce watches in American factories. It’s also cheaper to use women, because employers are able to pay them less for their work. The addition of machinery creates a more cost effective force of labor. This is what brought the need for Virginia Penny, because she brings awareness to these issues and advocates for the women involved in these factories. - Ashley Palin
  
 ====== Michael Adas, Machines as the Measure of Men ====== ====== Michael Adas, Machines as the Measure of Men ======
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 Throughout the piece, Adas argues that technological advancements made by "Industrialized Nations," gave Europeans a sense of superiority over other, less developed nations that were made up of cultures and customs that differed from European sensibilities. - Izabella Martinez Throughout the piece, Adas argues that technological advancements made by "Industrialized Nations," gave Europeans a sense of superiority over other, less developed nations that were made up of cultures and customs that differed from European sensibilities. - Izabella Martinez
  
-He argues that the the technological advancements in Europe was equated to the value and progress of a society. Since Europe was progressing so rapidly with inventions like the steam engine and railroads, coupled with their widespread use, created a sense that European civilization was superior. Countries not as quickly or as well devolped were seen as lesser than. This in turn created a narrative, one that was deeply rooted in colonialism, that recent inventions like the steam engine were symbols of power. - Ava B+**He argues that the the technological advancements in Europe was equated to the value and progress of a society.** Since Europe was progressing so rapidly with inventions like the steam engine and railroads, coupled with their widespread use, created a sense that European civilization was superior. Countries not as quickly or as well devolped were seen as lesser than. This in turn created a narrative, one that was deeply rooted in colonialism, that recent inventions like the steam engine were symbols of power. - Ava B 
 + 
 +Michael Adas argues that by Europeans having the ability to build technologies such as railroads, weapons, different machines, etc. that it proved that they were more superior and therefore more civilized. - Izzy Ellenberger 
 + 
 +The argument that is shown in this part is that because of the huge advancements in technological growth, a sense of superiority has been felt by the European powers over lesser nations that haven't had the same achievements themselves. -David Y.
  
 ==== EVIDENCE?  ====  ==== EVIDENCE?  ==== 
  
-The author primarily draws on information from travelogues written by explorers/missionaries/travelers, literary figures such as Kipling, historians like Henry Buckle, colonial theorists such as Le Bon, and other accounts that provide evidence to support his thesis. - Nikolai Kotkov+**The author primarily draws on information from travelogues written by explorers/missionaries/travelers, literary figures such as Kipling, historians like Henry Buckle, colonial theorists such as Le Bon, and other accounts that provide evidence to support his thesis**. - Nikolai Kotkov
  
 One example of where we can see this perspective is from the excerpt from Mary Kingsley. She talks about how when she visited Africa and came back home, it was the fact that she had railroads as to why she felt grateful to be English. - Grayson Donohoe One example of where we can see this perspective is from the excerpt from Mary Kingsley. She talks about how when she visited Africa and came back home, it was the fact that she had railroads as to why she felt grateful to be English. - Grayson Donohoe
  
 The author draws on the standard of civility set by Europeans:"...measurements of cranial capacity, estimates of railway mileage, and the capacity for work, discipline, and marking time became the decisive criteria by which Europeans judged other cultures and celebrated the superiority of their own." - Izabella Martinez The author draws on the standard of civility set by Europeans:"...measurements of cranial capacity, estimates of railway mileage, and the capacity for work, discipline, and marking time became the decisive criteria by which Europeans judged other cultures and celebrated the superiority of their own." - Izabella Martinez
 +
 +**He draws information from Mary Kingsley, a British writer who also traveled to Africa, where she provides her thoughts toward machinery and on how she believes in the British superiority, she says, ““...the thing that makes me proud of being one of the English... is the thing embodied in a great railway engine.” and“...that is just how I feel about the first magnificent bit of machinery I come across; it is the manifestation of the superiority of my race”. -** Izzy Ellenberger
 +
 +Adding to their territories, for example the size of France, thanks to advancements in military technology such as Ironclads, railroad lines, telegraph lines, and mass production of weapons have shown that their power can overwhelm any nation of equal size. - David Y.
 +
 ====== Scientific Management, ~1900-1940 ====== ====== Scientific Management, ~1900-1940 ======
  
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 Taylor mentions step by step instructions for the work force is most beneficially when coming to efficiency. With the help of the scientific method and some accountability, instead of workers hindering the production of whatever, they will be more inclined to work harder and quicker. And even goes as far to say that no behavior of an employee is to small to not be able to measure. --James Clayberg Taylor mentions step by step instructions for the work force is most beneficially when coming to efficiency. With the help of the scientific method and some accountability, instead of workers hindering the production of whatever, they will be more inclined to work harder and quicker. And even goes as far to say that no behavior of an employee is to small to not be able to measure. --James Clayberg
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 +It focused a lot on the need for improving the efficiency in the workplace. They saw that the productivity was down because of inefficient work and poor management. - Izzy Ellenberger
 +
 +Taylor has mentioned that because of the way business have been looking for work and managing it, it was shown to be ineffective and that a more effective way to do it using the scientific method would be more beneficial.  However, Taylorism would naturally met with resistance. - David Y.
  
 ==== Christine Frederick, The New Housekeeping, 1913 ==== ==== Christine Frederick, The New Housekeeping, 1913 ====
  
  
-Christine Frederick presents an interesting case of applying Taylor-like principles of scientific management to household work. She argued that employing scientific methods, understood as task efficiency and regularity, could help middle-class women manage the burdens of domestic labor. In my opinion,one of the most interesting parts of her recommendations was an instruction on how to keep children on the right schedule. - Nikolai Kotkov+**Christine Frederick presents an interesting case of applying Taylor-like principles of scientific management to household work.** She argued that employing scientific methods, understood as task efficiency and regularity, could help middle-class women manage the burdens of domestic labor. In my opinion,one of the most interesting parts of her recommendations was an instruction on how to keep children on the right schedule. - Nikolai Kotkov
  
-I found this reading off-putting from a gender studies perspective, since Frederick’s insistence that housewives are offered free advice and that home drudgery is only because the women who complain of it “refuse to accept the efficient methods and improved equipment offered” to them reads similarly to victim-blaming to me. The idea of running homes like a factory feels very capitalistic, and it reminds me of the idea that children are being raised to become machines in the system of capitalism rather than their own person. - Noah Rutkowski+I found this reading off-putting from a gender studies perspective, since Frederick’s insistence that housewives are offered free advice and that **home drudgery is only because the women who complain of it “refuse to accept the efficient methods and improved equipment offered”** to them reads similarly to victim-blaming to me. The idea of running homes like a factory feels very capitalistic, and **it reminds me of the idea that children are being raised to become machines in the system of capitalism rather than their own person**. - Noah Rutkowski
  
 Again the emphasis on efficiency takes over new arenas. It is one thing to understand efficiency in the factory, but now being applied to the household, how does a women make the house run effectively. Never really thought of domestic labor like that, even as far as the point of making the kids behave and behave quickly. --James Clayberg Again the emphasis on efficiency takes over new arenas. It is one thing to understand efficiency in the factory, but now being applied to the household, how does a women make the house run effectively. Never really thought of domestic labor like that, even as far as the point of making the kids behave and behave quickly. --James Clayberg
  
-The idea of using scientific, rigid schedules to children and household chores is laughable given just... the very nature of children and the household. It's chaotic by nature. The vibe of this reading is also strange, and seems very heartless. Just because it would be more "effective" for everyone to be mechanical about their work doesn't mean it's good. -- Oliver M. +The idea of using scientific, rigid schedules to children and household chores is laughable given just... the very nature of children and the household. It's chaotic by nature. **The vibe of this reading is also strange, and seems very heartless. Just because it would be more "effective" for everyone to be mechanical about their work doesn't mean it's good.** -- Oliver M. 
  
 Frederick is making an argument that asserts that middle class women are struggling to keep up with efficient housekeeping. She explains and gives examples of services that can help women become more efficient in the housekeeping chores. It’s interesting to see how this push for efficiency that we’ve talked about when applied to factories also starts applying to the home. - Grayson Donohoe Frederick is making an argument that asserts that middle class women are struggling to keep up with efficient housekeeping. She explains and gives examples of services that can help women become more efficient in the housekeeping chores. It’s interesting to see how this push for efficiency that we’ve talked about when applied to factories also starts applying to the home. - Grayson Donohoe
 +
 +This is a very interesting take on housekeeping and child rearing, one I admittedly don't empathize with based on my current understanding of how unstructured it is. However, this is a reminder that not every woman was gung ho about the change in gender roles and the push towards feminism. Many were content to stay in the home and based on the reading run it like a barracks. - Ava B
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 +I never thought of the principles as being something that would be used as an at home standard. I thought it was pretty interesting, though it makes sense because without some sense of order it can easily become chaos, that they would use the principles to make household tasks more efficient through something such as planning/scheduling. - Izzy Ellenberger
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 +**It seems that Taylorism was seen to be applying itself in a form to help with housekeeping, and that's what Frederick is pointing out here.**  Efficiency however could be shown to be helpful in any form of work. - David Y.
  
 ==== James O’Connell – 1911 ==== ==== James O’Connell – 1911 ====
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 O’Connell is making the argument that by instituting the scientific management system like the one Taylor is proposing would significantly impact the workers in a negative way. By cracking down on unions, workers don’t have a way to advocate for safe working conditions and better wages, resulting in a resistant workforce. - Grayson Donohoe O’Connell is making the argument that by instituting the scientific management system like the one Taylor is proposing would significantly impact the workers in a negative way. By cracking down on unions, workers don’t have a way to advocate for safe working conditions and better wages, resulting in a resistant workforce. - Grayson Donohoe
  
 +O’Connell viewed Taylor’s principles as a threat toward skilled labor as it took out any judgment from the worker. They were to instead follow a card telling them what to do step by step. O’Connell also criticizes the unfair and low wages. And how there were unjust punishments for not meeting a daily quota. - Izzy Ellenberger
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 +As expected, pushback against Taylorism was seen, especially in O'Connell's work here.  He mentioned how good reputation and finding people who can reach a goal rather than those who have a voice in their work and weeding out those who do not met it. - David Y.
 ==== 1913 Watertown arsenal’s striking workers’ petition to end Taylorism ==== ==== 1913 Watertown arsenal’s striking workers’ petition to end Taylorism ====
  
-This petition is particularly interesting because it partly echoes the potential problems predicted by J. O’Connell and, at the same time, engages with the broader discourse on the vulnerability of the worker’s body from the previous seminar’s texts. One of its arguments is that Taylor’s system exhausts people by unnecessarily speeding up the process, resembling “the slave driver.” - Nikolai Kotkov +**This petition is particularly interesting because it partly echoes the potential problems predicted by J. O’Connell and, at the same time, engages with the broader discourse on the vulnerability of the worker’s body from the previous seminar’s texts.** One of its arguments is that Taylor’s system exhausts people by unnecessarily speeding up the process, resembling “the slave driver.” - Nikolai Kotkov 
  
 Taylorism set strict times on workers using a stop watch to time and make sure that the workers were completing task on time set by management. This was deeply disliked because it was degrading and thought it as being undermined and losing their skills. Workers went on strike to get rid of this as no one seem to like this system. - Will C  Taylorism set strict times on workers using a stop watch to time and make sure that the workers were completing task on time set by management. This was deeply disliked because it was degrading and thought it as being undermined and losing their skills. Workers went on strike to get rid of this as no one seem to like this system. - Will C 
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 This document shows an example of what O’Connell was discussing in the previous meeting. Being put on a stop watch in order to make workers work faster and more “efficiently” is pushing them beyond what they are capable of and, as they’re saying, is not a sustainable and safe practice. - Grayson Donohoe This document shows an example of what O’Connell was discussing in the previous meeting. Being put on a stop watch in order to make workers work faster and more “efficiently” is pushing them beyond what they are capable of and, as they’re saying, is not a sustainable and safe practice. - Grayson Donohoe
  
-What this goal of efficiency doesn't fully plan for or planed for in this time period is the over working or exhaustion from the workforce. When people not doing the tasks (management) are now in timely control of the people doing the tasks (work force) and that work force now finds the timely management unreasonable, it is inevitable strikes were coming. --James Clayberg+**What this goal of efficiency doesn't fully plan for or planed for in this time period is the over working or exhaustion from the workforce.** When people not doing the tasks (management) are now in timely control of the people doing the tasks (work force) and that work force now finds the timely management unreasonable, it is inevitable strikes were coming. --James Clayberg 
 + 
 +The document covers the workers striking because of the harsh and unfair working conditions. The workers expressed that there were more accidents because of Taylor’s principles and being so rushed for time to meet their daily quota.** They expressed that they system caused distrust within a worker to management relationship by being put in an unfair and unsafe work environment.** - Izzy Ellenberger 
 + 
 +When push came to shove, action needed to be taken, and that's what the workers were doing here in their strike.  Their complaint about the unsafe conditions due to working trying to meet the goal in a specific time was the bases behind their strike. - David Y. 
 ==== 1939 textbook on scientific management ====  ==== 1939 textbook on scientific management ==== 
  
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 The instructions in the textbook are an example of how cutting the amount of time or movement it takes someone to do a part of the process is increasing the amount of productivity which is what Taylor is advocating for in scientific management. - Grayson Donohoe The instructions in the textbook are an example of how cutting the amount of time or movement it takes someone to do a part of the process is increasing the amount of productivity which is what Taylor is advocating for in scientific management. - Grayson Donohoe
  
 +What was shown in this work was I felt a good example of Taylorism at work for efficiency while keeping a worker safe by adding some key steps.  These include the distance an iron was taken to do the laundry, using cordless irons, and having a specific place for the iron to be placed when not at work. - David Y.
 ==== Henry Mitchell, Penobscot Indian, 1938 ====  ==== Henry Mitchell, Penobscot Indian, 1938 ==== 
  
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 This story was very entertaining to read, but also sad. The manager didn't see the value in the Native's experience and used them as a form of entertainment for customers. Sam Gray saw them as fitting an image of what the company should be and even had a picture of a Native American on the catalog, but brought in Brown to be the efficiency man, challenging their knowledge. - Hannah Holstrom  This story was very entertaining to read, but also sad. The manager didn't see the value in the Native's experience and used them as a form of entertainment for customers. Sam Gray saw them as fitting an image of what the company should be and even had a picture of a Native American on the catalog, but brought in Brown to be the efficiency man, challenging their knowledge. - Hannah Holstrom 
 +
 +**Here it shows the negative results on trying to focus on efficiency without fully understanding the nature of the craft.** - Izzy Ellenberger
 +
 +This story was interesting because it showed how Taylorism and efficiency at trying to create large volume of items in a shorter time could not work with everything.  Despite the fact that the canoes were drying faster, true craft would have had them more effective and safe.  The fact that more than half of their orders were returned were proof of this. - David Y. 
    
 ==== 1930's tale of “Highpockets” in Chicago ====  ==== 1930's tale of “Highpockets” in Chicago ==== 
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 This story displays what Mitchell, O’Connell, and the workers in the Watertown petition were talking about when it comes to scientific management overworking employees. We see this character of the Highpocket using every limb on his body to work and being praised for it. - Grayson Donohoe This story displays what Mitchell, O’Connell, and the workers in the Watertown petition were talking about when it comes to scientific management overworking employees. We see this character of the Highpocket using every limb on his body to work and being praised for it. - Grayson Donohoe
  
 +"He's always trying to figger a way to get some work out you at the same pay." A tall tale indeed, and while its satirical it's a display of the exploitative behavior of factories and companies. Who are portrayed in this reading as greedy people who want a superhuman who will do anything for a small fixed rate. - Ava B
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 +This shows an expression of the “ideal worker” that was expected through Taylorism. It uses Highpockets as the example showing how every part of him became a machine and how it sacrificed everything just for the sake of productivity. - Izzy Ellenberger
 +
 +It took a bit to understand what was going on here, but seeing that perfect employee working with every fiber and limb of their body with no real voice was a way to explain to some what Taylorism was seen as.  No doubt this is what some people who owned these factories wanted. - David Y.
  
 ==== Prof. Frank T. Carlton – 1914 ====  ==== Prof. Frank T. Carlton – 1914 ==== 
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 Professor Carlton makes a great and critical observation that in order to see the benefits in terms of increased productivity and efficiency the workers have to be on board. From the previous documents we’ve read so far, that doesn’t seem to be the case. It will be interesting to see how this evolves or changes later on in the readings. - Grayson Donohoe Professor Carlton makes a great and critical observation that in order to see the benefits in terms of increased productivity and efficiency the workers have to be on board. From the previous documents we’ve read so far, that doesn’t seem to be the case. It will be interesting to see how this evolves or changes later on in the readings. - Grayson Donohoe
 +
 +Carlton argues that the aim for productivity and efficiency shouldn’t come at the cost of others safety and or treating people as machinery. He advocates for a more human conscious approach to the industry. - Izzy Ellenberger
 +
 +Maximum gain with minimum effort.  Something that was aimed for that Carlton mentions as a way to utilize methods that wouldn't be harmful to others yet produce a high yield of goods.  We certainly see that in the future thanks to robotics. - David Y.
  
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