1940′s Top Ten Tips to hiring Women- Sexist Guide.

This patronizing sexist and retrospectively quite funny article was first published in the 1943 edition of Transportation. It dishes out sympathetic advice for the poor ‘male’ supervisor. Women ‘know your limits !’

1. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to unfortunately make allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and do her nails.

2. Older women who have never spent time outside their home may be cantankerous and fussy. Impress upon them the importance of friendliness and courtesy!

3. Pick young married women. They have more of a sense – usually – of responsibility, than the unmarried type. They are less likely to flirt.

4. General experience indicates that ‘husky’ girls – those on the heavy side – are more even tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.

5. Give each woman a special physical examination – one to cover female conditions. This step not only protects the property against lawsuits but reveals whether the potential female employee has any weaknesses that would make her mentally or physically unfit.

6. When possible – let the employee change from one job to another at some time during the working day. Women are less inclined to be nervous and like change!

7. Be tactful when issuing criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can’t just shrug off harsh words the way men do. never ridicule a woman – it breaks her spirit.

8. Be considerate about using strong language around women. She’ll grow to dislike her place of work if she hears too much swearing.

9. Get enough sizes in uniforms so that every girl will have a proper fit. This point can’t be stressed too much in keeping women happy.

10. Women lack initiative in finding work for themselves – keep them busy with a day long schedule.

This hilariously disturbing film is the real deal form 1943 !’
Courtesy of the Prelinger Archive. The stereotyping was standard stuff and women often had to sit through this drivel in the local cinema whilst waiting for the main feature.

And finally Harry Enfield’s comedy classic ” Women Know your limits”