ABSTRACT
At present the wages capital of the country, directly or indirectly, supports both sexes, though one of these is only partially engaged in industry; and therefore, although the unattached female population were to enter at once on productive employments, the wages capital of the country could as well afford to support them as now. In proportion as the time of women, at present comparatively valueless, is applied to useful employment, there will be an increase in the productive power of the country; and one is at first apt to fancy that the enlarged power of supply would, perhaps, exceed the corresponding demand, that the increased number of labourers would reduce wages, that the increased competition for the higher employments of industry would lower the rate of remuneration. The industrial income at present received by man has adjusted itself to a standard according to which he is socially bound to maintain women of his family that have no nearer dependence.
