read one of the two papers, write a report and answer questions

WomenBankClerksWWI.pdf

Home >Business & Finance homework help >Economics homework help >read one of the two papers, write a report and answer questions

WORLD WAR I AND WOMEN BANK CLERKS IN CANADA

World War I lasted from 1914 to 1918. The following articles discuss the employment

of women by Canadian banks before, during and after the war.

1913 – Before the Great War

Macmurchy, M. (1913, March 15). Occupations for Women – Women in Canadian

Banks. The Regina Leader, p. 37.

By Lady Marjory Jardine Ramsay MacMurchy Willison (1869 – 1938).

The expansion of the Canadian banking system is so great and has been so

rapid that banks have found it impossible to obtain men clerks and assistants in

sufficient numbers and of a suitable class. This has led to a very considerable demand

for women to enter the employ of Canadian banks, both as stenographers and bank

clerks. In one banking office alone there are sixty women clerks and stenographers.

A number of questions suggest themselves at once. What class of woman employee do

banks prefer? What opportunities and disadvantages are connected with banking as

an occupation for women? These questions were answered by a banker of

international fame, and by a woman who has been known for some years as one of

the ablest and most competent women employed by a bank in Canada.

WHY THERE IS DEMAND FOR WOMEN WORKERS

First of all, then, as the banker explained, there is a considerable demand for

women in Canadian banks, both as clerks and stenographers. This demand is likely

to increase, rather than diminish, for the simple reason that every man in Canada is

needed for work that only a man can do. When women can do any particular work,

employment will be offered them not only in this year but in the years to come. The

class of woman employee that Canadian banks are looking for is a woman of

refinement and education. It is almost safe to make the statement that, given

refinement and education, the bank prefers that its women employees should not be

in their first youth. The bank wants dependable service from women whose minds

are occupied with their work. No bank wants to train an employee, and then lose the

trained employee because she marries. Not that the bank as an institution

discourages women from marrying. Quite the contrary. Banks are notably generous

to their women employees when they marry. Still, the woman employee of between

twenty-eight and forty is likely to give the bank better and more continuous service

than the young stenographer of eighteen or twenty.

Since the bank requires education, refinement, and particularly good service

from its women employees, it follows as a matter of course that women clerks and

stenographers in banks are paid at a somewhat higher rate than the general run of

stenographers. Actual figures will have to be modified in different parts of Canada,

but generally speaking, the woman stenographer in a bank begins at about ten dollars

a week. Bank employees are given bonuses, which help out wonderfully when it comes

to reckoning up the woman’s salary. The banks also very generally provide luncheon

for their employees. This, also, is a considerable item when the entire income is

computed. Besides this, the hot luncheon of good food has a great deal to do with

maintaining the standard of health among the bank’s women employees. One of the

last advantages mentioned by the banker, who is an acknowledged leader in finance,

is that in banks women employees are treated as ladies. From all this, it will be seen

that for a large class of Canadian women – educated, gently bred women whose

sensibilities would suffer from the untampered rush of the world – employment in a

bank is a desirable occupation.

THE CASE OF THE CLEVER WOMAN

The great banker said many significant things; one of them, however, has

remained more significant than any of the others. He was speaking of the special gifts

which women have for employment in a bank. “The able woman,” he said, “who is

employed as a stenographer in a bank is so much more able than the clever man who

is employed as a stenographer.”

This strikes straight at the root of one aspect of banking as an employment for

women. Suppose “a very able woman” – in the words of the banker – goes into

business. The world is before her to conquer. […] An able woman who goes into a

bank cannot look forward to a remarkable success of this kind. She may become of

great value to the bank. She may have an intensely interesting, useful occupation,

and is likely to be happy in her work. She can study and understand Canadian

finance, and finance is a great subject which informs the mind and gives the woman

insight into the history of the world as it is today. But the highest positions in

banking, and the big salaries, are not for women employees. This is not so true in the

United States.

Now, remember what the great banker said: “The able woman who is employed

in a bank as a stenographer is so much more able than the c lever man who is

employed as a stenographer.” The meaning of this, put in other words, is as follows.

A man of ability equal to that of the clever woman employee will not take a position

as a stenographer, or if he does, he remains in it only a short time. The able woman

in banking is compelled to remain in such a position, because no better position is

open for her. The conclusion of which is, perhaps, that if a woman has remarkable

ability and is very ambitious, she had better choose some other occupation rather

than employment in a Canadian bank, unless she is willing to take less money and

have less authority in her employment than she might in a few other occupations.

But these employments are, after all, very few.

The demand for women employees in banks began from eight to ten years ago

in Canada, and has increased steadily. This is a well-paid occupation for Canadian

women, and the probabilities are that gradually banking will offer more attractions

to the able woman, as well as to the well-educated woman of refinement and a good

average of ability.

To the average woman of refinement, who has good ability and is well

educated, employment in a Canadian bank may be heartily recommended. She will

receive a good salary, as salaries are reckoned for women in Canada. She will be

treated with consideration. Her surroundings are pleasant. These considerations

count for a great deal with women. Much of the work of a bank is particularly suited

to women. They are so careful, accurate, painstaking and faithful, when they are good

employees. Even if a woman has no training as a stenographer or book keeper, the

demand for good service and for suitable employees is so keen, that a bank is

sometimes willing to take an untrained woman and teach her how to be useful to the

bank, as, for instance, in filing documents, or in other work of a similar character. All

of which means that there is plenty of work for women in Canada who seriously want

work.

1917 – During World War I

MANY WOMEN ENGAGED IN VANCOUVER BANKS AND NUMBERS

GROWING. (1917, January 19). The Vancouver Sun, p. 10.

Not only are women being employed in Vancouver as munitions workers, but

the number of positions they are holding in other occupations here is rapidly

increasing. It was stated by a local banker yesterday that fifty per cent. of the bank

clerks in the city are women, and the proportion is increasing.

This situation is, of course, general throughout Canada. A large number of the

male employees of the banks have enlisted, and they are replaced by women. In fact,

it is estimated that there are nearly 4,000 women bank clerks in Canada now.

Their positions range from junior clerkships to posts as ledger keepers and

tellers. So far, Vancouver has no women tellers, but several of the banks already

possess women ledger-keepers. The employment of women in this way is increasing

and being developed, more responsible positions being given to them as time goes on.

It is the opinion of bank officials that most of these women intend to remain in

the banks. The supply, too, seems to be practically unlimited, so that those who leave

can be readily replaced.

There are, of course, two great obstacles in the way. The chief is matrimony,

which, however, is a danger that lies before women in all forms of employment. School

teaching and other professions in which there are large numbers of women are

constantly suffering in this way from the depredations of men.

In this way, it is not likely that matrimony will be any worse obstacle to the

employment of women bank clerks than to their use in other forms of earning. There

is, however, another inconvenience in bank work; clerks are often transferred from

one office to another.

There can be no doubt that it is not as easy for a woman to move to a strange

city as it is for a man to strike camp. There may be more consideration for the women

in that particular than for the men, as bank officials seem to think that most of the

women want to stay if they are not moved from one part of the country to another.

Kells, E. (1917, November 9). Bankers Recognize Worth of Women Bank Clerks; Are

in the Business to Stay. The Edmonton Journal, p. 11.

Written by Edna Kells (1880 – 1947). She was an editor at the Edmonton Journal

from 1910 to 1933.

Women workers have been taken on the local bank staffs in comparatively

large numbers. They have made good, generally speaking, and are in the business to

stay, considering, of course, the possible return of bank clerks who have enlisted, and

whose positions are held open for them. This is the consensus of opinion expressed by

Edmonton bank managers, with other considerations of the question which I shall

take up in detail.

THE DEMON CURIOSITY

Curiosity is a hard task master. At least, that is as I found it when the little

demon was aroused in my mind by various items appearing from time to time in the

social columns of newspapers to the effect that “Miss Brown of the Bank of ----- staff

is spending her holidays… etc.” This was something entirely new. I was quite

accustomed to reading that Mr. Brown of the bank of ----- staff was holidaying at the

lake, but somehow the Mr. Browns from the bank staffs did not appear to be so

numerous as the Miss Browns. On top of this, I read a statement by Sir Edmund

Walker, president of the Canadian Bank of Commerce, to the effect that as a result

of the war and the consequent exodus of men from the ranks of bank clerks to the

ranks of the army, over one thousand women were employed in the different branches

of that institution.

“How about Edmonton?” I wondered. “And how are the women employees

working out?” was the second thought, which followed quickly on the first. “Better

find out,” suggested the little demon Curiosity.

My own opinion at the conclusion of my quest was that if the workers did not

make good, then they did not appreciate the managers under whom they worked.

Even in the busiest hour of the busiest day in the month, I found them in every

instance most courteous and interested in their employés and my mission. Speaking

from experience, I can say it means a great deal to be courteous in the busiest hour

of the busiest day of the month.

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE INEXPERIENCED

“Working out splendidly,” was the opinion expressed by one manager. “As

conditions are now, we could not carry on the work of the bank without the assistance

of women.” Banking affords an opportunity for the girls or women with no special

training or experience to work into business, this manager continued. A fair

education, a desire to learn, and an interest in her work are the main qualifications.

The girls are started at the beginning, but have the same chance to work up as the

men. Consideration for the health and comfort of the girl workers was expressed, and

a regret that bank buildings have not been built with a view to supplying residence

for the girls. This, however, was a condition bound to be remedied in time. Another

rather usual consideration expressed, was that which recognized the value of time’s

influence on character. A woman of twenty-five, for instance, was naturally more

responsible than a girl of eighteen, and could not be started to work on the same basis.

The women workers were found to be more dependable, as a class, than boys. This

was not said by way of criticism, the manager showing a sympathetic understanding

of the out of door attractions which appeal more to boys than to girls.

AFTERNOON TEA MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN LEDGER

Spice of variety was provided in the next interview, which was with the

inspector of that particular bank which appears to have experienced the difficulties

of handling the irresponsible ones. That they were working out fairly satisfactorily,

or would when the poorer ones were weeded out, was the highest praise the

conscience of this inspector would permit him to say. Women workers, he claimed,

lack a sense of responsibility, concentration, and a proper interest in the business in

which they engage. Social life attracts them and makes them careless about their

work. In fact, they do not care whether the ledger balances or not, provided they g et

out to afternoon tea. Furthermore, they are too fond of chattering in the back of the

office, which every one knows is poor policy for the girl who is anxious to make good.

In this bank, the men have frequently to work overtime to keep the work up to the

necessary mark. This is due to the incompetency of the girls. There was no bitterness

or undue desire to “knock” apparent in the criticism. A frank statement was asked

for, and was given, with the parting suggestion that I advise the girl workers in banks

to cultivate concentration, a sense of responsibility, and an interest in the business.

SOME GOOD, SOME POOR

“On the whole, the girl workers check up as well as the men,” was the opinion

of another manager. There are some good, and some poor, but as in the case of men,

the poor ones are gradually weeded out. This manager was not only highly pleased

with the manner in which the girl workers had taken up the work, but greatly

surprised that they had done so well. They are started at the beginning and work up.

At the present time, some are occupying responsible positions of different kinds on

the books, and as tellers in some departments.

MATRIMONY A DRAWBACK

“To lay it down as a principal, banking institutions would sooner have boys on

the staff than girls, when boys are available,” stated another manager, who further

claimed that while many girls work out well, a larger proportion of boys make good.

Matrimony is a barrier to a woman’s success in the profession. It frequently happens

that just when a girl becomes familiar with the work, and generally useful to the

bank, she gets married. With a man, the situation is different. Matrimony, for him,

means a stricter attention to business.

MUST BE EXPERIENCED

Inexperienced girls are not considered in another bank. They must have some

experience in the business before they are put on the books. This has been managed

by promoting stenographers to the accounting department, and the experiment has

worked out satisfactorily. The manager of this bank also expressed the belief that

there would be more and more women workers in the banking business as time goes

on.

GENERALLY SATISFACTORY

“Generally satisfactory,” were the words in which another manager summed

up the result of the experiment. Still another bank had not found it necessary to take

on women workers except stenographers, so could not express an opinion from

personal experience. This manager, however, said that in other branches of the bank,

it had worked out very well, and he expects that if war continues any length of time,

it will be necessary for him to take on girl clerks. A third bank had little experience,

but that little [was] satisfactory.

GIRLS NOT NATURALLY BANKERS

“A good girl is better than a poor man, but girls are not naturally bankers,”

was the opinion of the next manager interviewed, who further stated he would never

take girls if men were procurable. Girls, he said, are not in the business for the sake

of making good; their idea of business is to draw a salary. They have no sense of

responsibility, and do not take their work seriously. They do not care what is left

undone when they want to get away from the office. In meeting the public, they are

too trusting. “Girls trust men until they find them dishonest; I distrust everybody

until I find them honest,” he said. While the girls are strictly honest as far as handling

cash is concerned, he continued, they are too talkative, and apt to give away business

secrets. Matrimony, too, is a serious handicap, though a natural phase of a woman’s

career. Until they marry, girls might better stay at home and help their mothers,

devoting spare time to opportunities for cheering the lonely, than to rush into

business.

MORE DEPENDABLE THAN MEN

“Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,” appeared to be the opinion of

another manager. The prospect of matrimony interfering with his staff appeared to

be the least of his troubles, and whatever his troubles may be, they seemed to have

no connection with the women members of his staff. The inspector of his bank, he

said, had just concluded a fortnight’s inspection of the business, and had

congratulated him on the splendid staff of girls working in the various departments.

He had found them entirely dependable; more so than men. They were anxious to

make good, and never allowed private life to interfere with business. Business sense

and a desire to make good were the necessary qualifications, while a few months’

experience in other offices helped. Women clerks were accurate and faithful, sure of

promotion, and in the business to stay; that is, if matrimony did not step in and

snatch them from the ledgers. This manager further did not look upon possible

matrimony as a reason for debarring the women from equal consideration with men

in the matter of promotion.

DRAWBACKS OF A LIMITED VOCABLULARY

In some phases of banking, it would seem, such as in the handling of delinquent

debtors, an extensive vocabulary of “strong” language, whose use is unhampered by

any conscientious scruples, helps some. In fact, it is almost nece ssary. That this is

the only place where the girl bank clerks are apt to fail, appeared to be the opinion of

a manager who stated that he was well satisfied with the result of the experiment.

Girls, he said, work out as well as men; are quick to adapt themselves, and appear

anxious to familiarize themselves with the work. Women clerks did not so readily

adapt themselves to meeting the public in a business way, as did men, but this was

the natural result of centuries of home life. It would take a decade to o vercome this

difficulty. One large bank, which employs many more girls than this branch, reports

than since the introduction of girl clerks the efficiency of the bank has increased, this

manager said.

PERSONALITY AN ASSET

Personality counts greatly in the matter of success in banking, said another

manager who had tried girl clerks out and found them generally satisfactory. As yet,

however, the employment of girls was in the nature of an experiment. Some are poor,

and some good. He had not found that social affairs interfered with business life; that

is entirely a matter of personality. Matrimony has a tendency to interfere with

women’s success in their profession.

LOSE THEIR HEADS

That the women employés are working out very well, but cannot be placed in

all departments, was the opinion of another manager. They can handle the books all

right, but cannot be placed as tellers, since they feel their responsibility too keenly,

and in the rush hours are apt to lose their heads, a serious matter when it comes to

handling money. In the matter of promotion, this bank considers men first, on account

of the possibility of matrimony interfering with their continuance in the work. Every

bank, he said, must have three senior men, at least. Girls can do the other work. It

would not be possible to keep the country branches open were it not for the girl clerks

coming to the rescue.

“Too much experience,” smilingly said another manager, when questioned as

to whether he had had any experience in employing girl clerks. Some girls had been

found wanting, while others had worked out well; on the whole they had worked out

as well as the boys. “You cannot talk to girls the same as to boys; but they need less

talking to,” he said. No trouble had been experienced with girls discussing the bank’s

business, and he was satisfied they were in the banks to stay. Further, that as time

goes on the banks will make openings for them. There is one drawback, however.

Girls cannot stand the strain of long hours which the work sometimes demands, he

said, and there seems to be a tendency on the part of girls, starting in, to consider

that the work is light and the hours short. A knowledge of mathematics, an ability to

make legible figures and write plainly are necessary qualifications. All inexperie nced

girls must start at the beginning. Women clerks take all the interest in the bank

necessary; all that is called for is an interest in their individual work. This they do

take. There was no reason why they should not work up in the profession. In many

cases, this manager had found that communications coming in from other banks were

signed by women clerks for the managers.

Such is the opinion of the Edmonton bank managers, as to the introduction of

women bank clerks brought about as a result of the war.

1921 – After the War

WOMEN BANK CLERKS TO BE ELIMINATED. (1921, June 24). The Financial Post, p. 12.

Making way for male employees, the Financial Post understands the tendency

will be to eliminate the women bank clerks, and that as governing the immediate

future, girl employees will not be favored in the service of Canadian banking

institutions. The woman banker, while accepted as a success up to a certain position

under the Canadian system of branch banking, after a six year test, has proved to be

a serious stumbling block to the promotion system. Probably ninety per cent. of the

women clerks will not accept transfers from branch to branch. As a result, the

promotion system, as evolved out of a period of many years’ Canadian banking

practice, is said recently to have seriously broken down.

Among all the changes which business conditions of recent years brought about

in Canadian banks, undeniably the most outstanding was the throwing open of new

positions to women. Prior to the war, girls were not employed in Canadian banks in

a clerking capacity. The depletion of staffs when the men went to the front first

opened the way for women. The tremendous business expansion immediately

following the cessation of war continued the need of retaining female workers to

supplement [the male].

Complete figures have never been available [that] fully indicate the strength

of women bankers in the Dominion, but that the ratio is considerable is indicated in

the announcements of two of the larger banking institutions, one of which recently

reported that of a staff of 2,300, more than 700 were women, and the other that of a

staff of 1,300, some 400 were women.

Staffing of our banks was an acute problem in the first days of the

reconstruction era. The overwhelming expansion of the branch system made serious

inroads into the staffs. For this reason, the temporary staff engaged during the war

period, in the full expectation of being released when the war stopped, was retained.

The girls, however, remained upon the temporary staffs and for this reason may the