"N2EY" wrote in message
...

I recall a time when an office of any size had a "typing pool" and "file
clerks" - jobs that were relatively unskilled but paid decent wages and
benefits. Computerization almost eliminated those sorts of jobs but did
not
replace them with other jobs.

No these jobs did not pay a decent wage. People in these jobs could not
live independenly on that income and raise a family. They either were a
second wage earner in a family or a single person living at home or with
room mates. The pay was just barely above minimum wage and it was
definitely not a "living wage".

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

In article , "Dee D. Flint"
writes:

"N2EY" wrote in message
...

I recall a time when an office of any size had a "typing pool" and "file
clerks" - jobs that were relatively unskilled but paid decent wages and
benefits. Computerization almost eliminated those sorts of jobs but did
not
replace them with other jobs.

That should read "did not replace *all of them* with the same number of other
jobs"

No these jobs did not pay a decent wage. People in these jobs could not
live independenly on that income and raise a family. They either were a
second wage earner in a family or a single person living at home or with
room mates. The pay was just barely above minimum wage and it was
definitely not a "living wage".

I agree that a person couldn't raise a family on those wages, but I knew a lot
of people who lived independently on them. A lot depended on the employer,
whether the job was union or not, etc.

Also a *big* variable was the cost-of-living in a particular area. It costs a
lot more to live in, say, SF or NYC. But there's only one national minimum
wage.

73 de Jim, N2EY

I recall a time when an office of any size had a "typing pool" and "file
clerks" - jobs that were relatively unskilled but paid decent wages and
benefits. Computerization almost eliminated those sorts of jobs but did
not replace them with other jobs.

Remember also that that was at a time when young ladies coming into
the job force became nurses, teachers, social workers, telephone
operators, or clerical workers, or else they married young and stayed
home raising kids.

The era of such young ladies becoming technicians or office managers
in any great number was yet to come, let alone becoming professionals
(physicians, engineers, lawyers, etc) or taking "man's jobs" such as
firefighters, police officers, and construction trade / craft workers.

Technology was not the only reason for such changes. Our society
changed.

--
73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

"Phil Kane" wrote in message
et...
The era of such young ladies becoming technicians or office managers
in any great number was yet to come, let alone becoming professionals
(physicians, engineers, lawyers, etc) or taking "man's jobs" such as
firefighters, police officers, and construction trade / craft workers.

Technology was not the only reason for such changes. Our society
changed.

--
73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

Hi Phil,

I hate to ask the proverbial "loaded question," but do you think "our
society has changed" for the better or worse wrt the aforementioned subject
matter?

Good natured query, I assure you. :-)

73 de Bert
WA2SI

"Bert Craig" wrote

I hate to ask the proverbial "loaded question," but do you think "our
society has changed" for the better or worse wrt the aforementioned
subject
matter?

I'll chime in here, and suggest that it is very much for the better. Many
employees in my group are female in traditionally male job titles
(engineers, managers, etc.). Their performance, professionalism, and
contributions to our success are completely comparable to their male
counterparts.

On a more personal note, one of my daughters no longer has a husband and is
raising 4 fine kids comfortably because she pursued a technical education
and career. In the "good old days" she would not have been able to do so,
and her financial picture would have been much more bleak.

73, de Hans, K0HB

"KØHB" wrote in message
link.net...
"Bert Craig" wrote

I hate to ask the proverbial "loaded question," but do you think "our
society has changed" for the better or worse wrt the aforementioned
subject
matter?

I'll chime in here

Chime on in, Hans. "All are welcome!"

, and suggest that it is very much for the better. Many
employees in my group are female in traditionally male job titles
(engineers, managers, etc.). Their performance, professionalism, and
contributions to our success are completely comparable to their male
counterparts.

I agree.

On a more personal note, one of my daughters no longer has a husband and
is
raising 4 fine kids comfortably because she pursued a technical education
and career. In the "good old days" she would not have been able to do so,
and her financial picture would have been much more bleak.

Hats off to your daughter and my wishes for her continued success. I have a
precocious six year old who has proclaimed that she wants to be an eye
doctor. While far to early for any of us (Particularly said precocious one.)
to be really know what career path she'll eventually take, we ARE thankful
that said path is there for her to choose.

73, de Hans, K0HB

73 de Bert
WA2SI

Oops, that's "While far too early for any of us" :-o

"Bert Craig" wrote in message
t...

"KØHB" wrote in message
link.net...
"Bert Craig" wrote

I hate to ask the proverbial "loaded question," but do you think "our
society has changed" for the better or worse wrt the aforementioned
subject
matter?

I'll chime in here

Chime on in, Hans. "All are welcome!"

, and suggest that it is very much for the better. Many
employees in my group are female in traditionally male job titles
(engineers, managers, etc.). Their performance, professionalism, and
contributions to our success are completely comparable to their male
counterparts.

I agree.

On a more personal note, one of my daughters no longer has a husband and
is
raising 4 fine kids comfortably because she pursued a technical
education
and career. In the "good old days" she would not have been able to do
so,
and her financial picture would have been much more bleak.

Hats off to your daughter and my wishes for her continued success. I have
a
precocious six year old who has proclaimed that she wants to be an eye
doctor. While far to early for any of us (Particularly said precocious
one.)
to be really know what career path she'll eventually take, we ARE thankful
that said path is there for her to choose.

73, de Hans, K0HB

73 de Bert
WA2SI

On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 23:30:38 GMT, Bert Craig wrote:

I hate to ask the proverbial "loaded question," but do you think "our
society has changed" for the better or worse wrt the aforementioned subject
matter?

Good natured query, I assure you. :-)

Much for the better for exactly the reasons that you and Hans
articulated earlier.

--
73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

"KØHB" wrote in message hlink.net...
"Bert Craig" wrote

I hate to ask the proverbial "loaded question," but do you think "our
society has changed" for the better or worse wrt the aforementioned
subject
matter?

I'll chime in here, and suggest that it is very much for the better. Many
employees in my group are female in traditionally male job titles
(engineers, managers, etc.). Their performance, professionalism, and
contributions to our success are completely comparable to their male
counterparts.

On a more personal note, one of my daughters no longer has a husband and is
raising 4 fine kids comfortably because she pursued a technical education
and career. In the "good old days" she would not have been able to do so,
and her financial picture would have been much more bleak.

Agreed. I had to put real work into making sure all three of my
daughters had technical degrees of various flavors for exactly the
reason you cite and I'm resting much easier now than I would be if I
hadn't leaned on 'em about getting degrees. Leaned hard in one case
but I prevailed. It's been statistically obvious for years that
"significant others" amongst those in their reproductive years have a
propensity for coming and going seemingly at will vs. "the good old
days". Two of my daughters dragged the wrong pieces of male sludge
home and when push came to shove it got down to "I don't need you, hit
the road, I'm taking my name back" and they went back into their
profe$$ions.


73, de Hans, K0HB

w3rv