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Spring 2002

ISSN 0890-913X

Volume 17, Number 2

Categories: Spring 2002 | Government Policy

Minimum Wages for Women Only

Clifford F. Thies , Shenandoah University

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MinimumWagesForWomenOnlyCliffordF.ThiesShenandoahUniversityIn1912,Massachusettspassedthiscountry=sfirstminimumwagelaw.Thelawappliedonlytowomenbecausefreedomofcontractwasnotthenfullyenjoyedbywomen.Through1923,minimumwagelawsforwomenwereenactedinfourteenadditionalstates,theDistrictofColumbia,andPuertoRico.Then,inAdkinsv.Children=sHospital,ina5-4opinion,theSupremeCourtdeclaredminimumwagelawstobeunconstitutional.Womenaswellasmenenjoyedfreedomofcontract.Fourteenyearslater,in1937,inWestCoastHotelv.Parrish,inanother5-4opinion,theSupremeCourtreverseditself:AWhatisthisfreedom?TheConstitutiondoesnotspeakofafreedomofcontract.@Thispaperreviewstheexperienceofthefirst-in-the-nationMassachusettsminimumwagelawinlightofcontemporaryminimumwagetheory,andusingtheheretoforeunderutilizedannualsurveyofmanufacturingthenconductedbythestate.Consistentwithcontemporaryminimumwagetheory,andcontradictingtheassessmentsofminimumwageadvocatesofthetime,theMassachusettsminimumwageisfoundtohavereducedemploymentofwomen,increasedemploymentofmenandofcapital,andeliminatedAslacktime@forwomenworkers.Furthermore,bydenyingemploymenttotheleastable,theMassachusettsminimumwagelawopenedthedoortothecreationofapermanentunderclassinourcountry,peopleunabletodemonstratetheirwillingnesstowork,andthusbereftofprivatecharitablesupportbythosemorefortunate,andinneedofgovernmentwelfare.TheMassachusettsminimumwagelawTheMassachusettsminimumwagelaw,likemostoftheearlyminimumwagelaws,providedfortheissuanceofminimumwage

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Metadata [hide]

Title	Minimum Wages for Women Only
Authors/Creators:	Clifford F. Thies , Shenandoah University
Year:	2002
Volume:	17
Number:	2
Pages:	51 - 73
Publisher:	The Association of Private Enterprise Education
ISSN:	0890-913X
Document Type:	Articles
Keywords:	Price control, Equality, Freedom, Contracts, Labour law, Women's studies, Unemployment, Supply and demand, Poverty

Citation:
Thies, Clifford F. / 2002. "Minimum Wages for Women Only." The Journal of Private Enterprise, 17(2): 51-73.