Woodcut illustrating the benefits of an 8-hour work day

 

Susan B. Anthony advocated an eight-hour work day and equal pay for equal work. When male teachers complained that teachers were not respected, Susan B. Anthony fired back, “so long as society says a women has not brains enough to be a doctor, lawyer or minister, but has plenty to be a teacher, every man of you who condescends to teach, tacitly admits before all Israel and the sun that he has no more brains than a woman.” (p.101 Life & Work)

As head of the Workingwoman’s Association, Susan B. Anthony campaigned to open professions to women, and taught working women how to organize themselves on the basis of equal rights.

“Make up your minds to take the ‘lean’ with the ‘fat,’” she  counseled,  “and be early and late at the case precisely as men are. I do not demand equal pay for any women save those who do equal work in value. Scorn to be coddled by your employers; make them understand that you are in their services as workers, not as women.” (p.308 Life & Work)