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Radium Girls: The Untold Story of Women and Industrial Health Reform

Richard Simmons

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Published in Radium Girls: Women And Industrial Health Reform 1910 1935

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In the early 20th century, the radium industry was booming. Radium was used in everything from watches and clocks to medical treatments. But the women who worked in the radium industry were unaware of the dangers of the material they were working with.

These women, known as "Radium Girls," were exposed to high levels of radiation that led to devastating illnesses and deaths. Their story is a tragic example of the dangers of industrialization and the need for workplace safety regulations.

Radium Girls: Women and Industrial Health Reform, 1910-1935

by Claudia Clark

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1311 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	303 pages

The Radium Girls

The Radium Girls were young women who worked in factories that produced radium-based products. They were often tasked with painting watch dials with radium paint. The paint was applied with a brush, and the women would often lick the tips of their brushes to get a finer point.

The women were unaware of the dangers of radium. They were not given any protective clothing or equipment, and they were not warned about the risks of radiation exposure.

As a result, the women began to suffer from a variety of illnesses, including anemia, bone cancer, and radium poisoning. Many of the women died from their illnesses, and others were left with permanent disabilities.

The Fight for Justice

The Radium Girls' story is a tragic example of the dangers of industrialization. It is also a story of courage and determination, as the women fought for justice and for the protection of future workers.

The women's fight for justice began in 1925, when five of the Radium Girls filed a lawsuit against the United States Radium Corporation. The women argued that the company had failed to warn them about the dangers of radium, and that they had been exposed to radiation as a result of the company's negligence.

The case was a long and difficult one, but the women eventually won their case. In 1928, the United States Radium Corporation agreed to pay the women $10,000 each in damages.

The women's victory was a landmark case in the history of occupational health reform. It helped to raise awareness of the dangers of radiation exposure, and it led to the establishment of new workplace safety regulations.

The Legacy of the Radium Girls

The Radium Girls' story is a tragic reminder of the dangers of industrialization. It is also a story of courage and determination, as the women fought for justice and for the protection of future workers.

The Radium Girls' legacy is one of hope and inspiration. Their story shows us that even in the face of adversity, we can fight for what is right and make a difference in the world.

Radium Girls is a groundbreaking book that tells the untold story of the women who worked in the radium industry in the early 20th century. These women, known as "Radium Girls," were exposed to high levels of radiation that led to devastating illnesses and deaths. Their story is a tragic example of the dangers of industrialization and the need for workplace safety regulations.

Radium Girls is a must-read for anyone interested in history, women's studies, or public health. It is a powerful and moving story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Radium Girls: Women and Industrial Health Reform, 1910-1935

by Claudia Clark

4.3 out of 5