March 12 — Working girl: Did your mother or grandmother work outside the home? What did she do? Describe her occupation.
[Note: This post originally ran during the Fearless Females series in March 2010]
My mother worked part-time as a receptionist in an optometrist’s office. She likely did not have to because my father had a steady job as a carpenter on the railroad and did other carpentry jobs on the side, but my mother worked to save money to help pay for my high school and college education. I am so grateful.
Both of my grandmothers also worked outside the home–my paternal grandmother at Kennywood Amusement Park and my maternal grandmother worked cleaning houses for families in the Squirrel Hill area of Pittsburgh and for a school superintendent. I’m not ashamed to say that they worked hard and how I admire them for handling their jobs and raising their children. Neither had an easy life, but they didn’t complain. They taught by example, and I’m pleased to honor them, and my mother, with this Blog post.
Copyright, 2012, Lisa A. Alzo
All rights reserved
It seems that women have been working outside of the home for much longer than nostalgia would have us believe. I think I will have to do a post today on the working women in my family.