Survival tips for living and prospering under Martial Law

I think most of the people on this forum are living under martial law, whether they know it or not.

I lived in Argentina when it was under brutal dictatorships and, if it wasn't for diplomatic passport, would have become one of the "disappeared" myself after military thugs randomly attacked me.

I'd love to hear your definition of "martial law".


TL

In the US, it is still referred to as "Posse Comitatus"...

I really hate to add this...but it seems kind of timely, considering the subject -
World News - American jailed for insulting Thai king - while living in Colorado

Its a bit creepy to see this thread after hearing about this story on yahoo news the other day:


The yahoo article didn't have this video - Anonymous read their article in a spooky computer voice with a spooky mask.. so much more dramatic this way than just reading the article.

But yeah, it is a true story and it was really reported on there..

Spooky...reminds me of that Martin Niemöller poem all over again...seems history repeats itself -

This may turn around and bite them in the butt.

Thankfully, I've never personally lived under martial law, but parts of Ireland started to head in that direction during the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and I would have been one of Big Brother's minions had it actually done so.

I can tell you this:

1. Big Brother doesn't care about you or what you do unless/until you challenge his authority.
2. His resources are NOT unlimited, and, thus, are focused in particular areas, such as against KNOWN subversives.
3. For that reason, it's actually surprisingly hard to come to his attention.
4. However, if you do, then, despite his limitations, he will come down on you like a tonne of bricks anyway.
5. In time of martial law (REAL martial law), he'll simply kill you and, thus, won't need to expend any more resources in relation to you.

With that in mind, he's some advice for SURVIVING (NOT revolting against) martial law (and, again, I mean REAL martial law, when civilian authority is GONE... not a situation where the police whack a few protestors on the head).

1. If you have guns, bury them somewhere immediately. And not in, or around, your house either; somewhere else. If you have nowhere else to bury them, throw them (and all ammunition) into a river or lake, or simply dump them somewhere obscure and out of the way. You might THINK you'll need them, but you won't. Under REAL martial law, they WILL get you killed. No matter how handy you think you are with a gun, you DON'T have the ability to fend off highly-trained combat troops and if you try, they'll kill you (REALLY fast). However, they'll probably kill you anyway if they find that unloaded pistol you have stashed at the back of your sock drawer. So no guns (at all). Consider that the golden rule of SURVIVING martial law. (Again, this is about survival; if widespread civilian resistance does occur down the line (you won't be the one to "organise" it), you'll find guns will become readily available anyway, as they ALWAYS do.)

2. If you're worried about defending your home from others (not troops, but criminals looking to steal your food, rape you, etc.), firstly consider the fact that such people generally don't operate alone and, even if you keep your gun, there's a >90% chance you don't have the ability to use it against multiple attackers in a confined space. A viable alternative might be pepper spray - not the "ordinary" stuff but, if you can get it, there is much stronger stuff available (though it might not be legal where you're from). I'm talking about stuff that will bring down a bloody elephant, never mind a man. If you can get you hands on it, you'll disable half a dozen people at the same time (though possibly yourself too, if you're not careful).

3. Another alternative is to make sure your kitchen knifes are kept so sharp that you could used them to shave. Kitchen knifes don't look out of place in any home and are relatively easy to kill someone with. However, DON'T keep a combat knife at home; send it away with your guns.

4. Remember that the majority of troops you encounter will be young males (typically in the 18-24 age range), correspondingly aggressive (for that age range), and, despite being trained killers, will also most likely be quite nervous (which leads to itchy trigger fingers). Therefore, DON'T be confrontational towards them in any way whatsoever, DON'T look them in the eyes, DON'T carry weapons of any kind, DON'T make sudden movements, and DO be polite to them (even if they aren't) and DO follow any instructions they give you. If they are being arseholes, you might feel like doing "something", but don't; just suck it up.

5. Stay at home as much as possible. Stay at home ALL THE TIME, if you can. (Stock up on large, thick books - they'll help you pass the time, and they don't require electricity which, if the imposition of martial law is the result of some disaster, may not be available.)

6. There's plently of stuff available "out there" about food, but hardly anyone mentions the fact that, not only should you never tell anyone else you have food, but you should also NEVER (EVER) tell your own children or teenagers (especially teenagers) how much you have (or, if you can help it, even the fact that you have anything). They won't mean to, but they WILL give you away in a flash. And don't EVER feed their friends either, even if they're dying from starvation. And only eat enough to sustain you too; if the situation persists, and people around you are getting thinnner and weaker, while you appear well-fed, you will attract some very unwanted attention.

7. Bury your empty cans; stock up on paper plates, and bury them too afterwards.

8. If possible, DON'T keep all your food in one place; if someone finds it, it's ALL gone. Instead, hide smaller amounts in multiple locations.

9. Always mind your own business. If any situation has deteriorated to the point that martial law is imposed, then the time to be a hero has (long) passed, and your only focus should be making sure you and your family survive (not thrive, which nobody will under such a situation, but survive, as in "don't die").

All the above notwithstanding, the fact remains that the overwhelming majority of people reading this thread will actually never experience anything even close to martial law.

Tommy.

What a wonderful way to live. I would have to hope if push came to shove in that instance, that our military would be more likely to go after the perps instead of the citizens. We may end up with civil war - we do have a lot of citizens with guns.......but more importantly, we have a LOT of military vets with guns. Don't forget how many of our men in this country have been trained in the military, and how many of those have seen war firsthand. There are a lot of brass on the side of the civilians and are horrified over the way our congress is taking over. This event could be just full of real surprises from all angles yet.

I'd rather die than live as a coward, constantly in fear of the same government that is supposed to protect you.

My guns arent going anywhere.

I dont care if this bill isn't vetoed or not. Im not giving them up. I have the right to keep and bear arms, no matter what their new bill says.

For example, take the law passed in 1986 that makes it illegal to possess a full-auto firearm. That just means you cant buy/sell/own a full-auto that was manufactured AFTER the bill was passed.

Its still perfectly legal to own/buy/sell a full-auto that was made before 1986.

So as far as I'm concerned, this new bill applies to Americans born in Dec 2011 and later hahahaha

It's like when you used to have to fill out that gov't job form: (in triplicate)
(do they still do this?)

"Are you or have you ever been a member of the Communist party, -OR - Are you or have you ever been a member of any organization that plots to undermine or overthrow the constitution of the united states by force or illegal means" - yes - or - no?

If you are...would you answer YES? :rolleyes:
(kind of undermines the whole subversive operation if ya do...)

It's a CYA clause - (see you guys? - They LIED on the form!!! - That PROVES they're subversive!!!)

Damned if you do...Damned if you don't -

btw:I'd seen that stupid form so many times...I had it memorized...:rolleyes:

Well, I have had a little taste of aspects. Whether from police, the US government, employers, etc... It is astounding that the second paragraph of the declaration of independence indicates a thought that is to be PARAMOUNT! It even says "INALIENABLE"! In other words "PARAMOUNT AND NOT TO BE VIOLATED OR COUNTERMANDED!!!!!!!"!!!!!! And all take an oath to defend its child which basically spells that out. Yet so many so freely countermand them. I hope they SUCCEED in countermanding EVERY one for only THEMSELVES and their ilk! That would be true justice!

Steve

The tips from Thomas sound good. people underestimate the power of mobs, etc...

Thomas does indeed bring up good points.

If you want to see a good example of 'hidden' weapons in plain site.

Okinawa is a good example, the nunchucks, sythes, tonfa (which all big city cops now carry instead of the old nightstick) etc...were all 'farming tools' when Okinawan's weren't allowed to have weapons.

Trained properly, things like magazines, umbrellas, etc...can be deadly weapons.

I was in the Philippines in 1980. Marcos still had martial law in effect for another year after that.
If I remember right American armed forces had to obey certain aspects of it too.
Curfews and such. The militias and cops and Army (theirs), used to walk around at least six deep.
Fully armed with ArmaLites (sp?)
Plus the OPM (Office of the Provost Marshal) which was some kind of liaison between the forces...can't really remember their exact duties.

None...You don't.

The greatest weapon you have is right between your ears..

History is full of lessons about much 'weaker' countries using very improvised and well thought out ways to keep a larger occupying force at bay.
Just ask the Vietnamese.

A lot of people will be surprised at how well your brain is going to work when you have to.

It ain't about being an action figure Rambo, all the time, by any stretch.

Everything is a weapon -- mirrors set beside doors are diversions that buy a couple of seconds of time..........boiling water on a stove is a weapon - cayenne pepper, Jalapeno juice, Chinese mustard-- ammonia and a squirt gun, pencils and pens.........ammonia and bleach (as long is it's released somewhere that YOU aren't breathing.....Got a chance to infiltrate a unit of men? - Concentrated sludge from a reverse osmosis filter....Ecoli. They have to eat, too, after all.

I heard a statement today. I wish I could recall how it was put. But the English language has changed a LOT!

Today, "taking an oath" is understood to mean you said some stupid little statement, and that is IT!

It is SUPPOSED to mean that you will effectively protect and honor something TO THE DEATH! The oath is not actually the AFFIRMATION that you will do it, or what is said, but the WHOLE PACKAGE!(The whole act!)

Do you REALLY think ANYONE cares about the statement? NOPE! The statement was an AFFIRMATION! If you break it in Court, you could be held for contempt of court or PERJURY! If you break it in congress, you could be held for contempt of congress, or perjury. If you break it in the military, you can be dishonorably discharged, lose ALL rights, and be THROWN IN JAIL! If you break it in office, you are supposed to be impeached, etc.... It is NOT supposed to be just to get your picture taken, etc... HELL, even I am signing contracts and could lose EVERYTHING if I violate them. Some would even be CRIMINAL FELONIES! Never ONCE was there an event to invite people to! HELL, about a month ago I did a stint for a MILITARY CONTRACTOR! A coworker was SHOCKED when I said I didn't have to give them my birth certificate. HE DID! But I was only there for a weekend.(SHORT PROJECT). They only allow US native born citizens to work there.

Steve

Are you sure this wasn't a typo all this time?

Maybe we were supposed to be discussing "Survival tips for living and prospering under Marital - instead of Martial Law...which might be tricky as well -

Steve - you can get "super soakers" at any toy store - shoots a stream up to 30 feet.

How many of those living under such governments do you actually think are willing to risk their own ass to respond to a question like that online? Survival for them right now is staying invisible. Posting stuff you ask for here isn't doing that. LOL.

You might want to START caring about things like that. When they are bold enough to deny someone with that much public influence due process according to our constitution and bill of rights - how many people in this berg do you think can get their guaranteed due process? Not caring about the infringement on one person's rights is the same as not caring about any infringements on everyone's rights. It's just that negligence to think objectively rather than subjectively which has allowed us to come to the point we need to be discussing this in the first place.

BTW -- for defense against pepper spray, if you are going into areas where pepper spray might be used (protests), coat your skin with a solution of liquid antacid and water. Keep a small bottle of it with you to douse your eyes. It deactivates the spray.

They have a weapon that replicates lightning now, too. THEY have THOR suits that keep them from getting electrocuted. Thor shield is not sold to anyone but the military. So be careful of electricity be thrown at you in a riot situation. If you ever feel your hair starting to raise when you are in or near an area of protest, it might be too late to get out of the way - duck and cover.

In the science "Terminator" sort of vein - (not to sound too paranoid :rolleyes

I blink these days when I read more and more about our computers, tv's, all communications, becoming "self-aware" in the next generation of artificial intelligence...
The web (and those who control it) already know more about you than you ever thought possible just a few years ago...

Moore's law used the relative term of 18 months - that general time frame appears to be getting shorter and shorter...faster and faster...

When you allow your "assistant" to learn all your personal buying habits, routines, etc. -
As it becomes more self-aware...will you become less aware?
How much freedom will you give away...to be "free"?

Who is the Shepard and who are the sheep? Who will be in control?

Even those here who understand the implications and impact stand in awe of the possibilities...

I watch plenty of Man vs Wild/Man Woman Wild/Dual Survival.. all of those shows. LOL

I like to think I would be pretty damn good at survival. Maybe we'll find out one day, maybe we wont? hahaha

Doc Brown and Marty McFly...:p

It is always a good idea to have a large supply of food when curfew allows it

WOW! Even with all the FACTS to say you are wrong, you STILL think you are right. YIKES!

The government HAS controlled people and taken away rights. That's fact, and should be obvious, so why say more.

Surveillance used to be TABOO. The US actually had to fight to get things like cameras to catch speeders put in. A LOT of other footage was slowly acquired and spotty because it was from things like store cameras and ATM cameras. TODAY? WHO KNOWS? Maybe every new pole has a camera. And they are replacing a LOT of poles!

It was a while before they had METAL DETECTORS in airports. Even then, family could go through and meet or sendoff the passenger. Today, they may effectively XRAY you, and some claim they DO! Oh well, about 80% DO use Xrays!

They HAVE to let people like Jesse talk! If they DON'T, then even people that dislike Jesse and say he is a kook will be fighting the government. Don't believe me? Look at YOUR post again! You said we can't believe him BECAUSE he can talk!

Time and time again, "conspiracy theorists" are proven RIGHT. And people, like you, STILL say they are ALL kooks, until the facts are ADMITTED by the government. HECK, MANY said Area 51 was FAKE! Montel claimed HE had TOP security clearance, and could find out. He wasn't even allowed to SEE the base. And Conspiracies in the government HAPPEN ALL THE TIME! Heck, many aren't even published for people like you to ridicule.

Some YOU might not even call conspiracies, even though a group of people agreed to the nefarious purpose, and thus made it one. I guess if it is written on a public paper, and not sci-fi, you don't ridicule it, and thus don't count it against you. MOST aren't scifi. When area 51 started, it probably wasn't anything like scifi. Even NOW, officially, it is JUST on the borders. Of course, everything is SO secret, that you KNOW they go farther than they say.

There was, YES, a CONSPIRACY, to EVEN withhold information about the chemicals they are throwing away! There is a special disease a lot of people got, and they SUED to fid out what the chemicals are so that they could MAYBE be treated. The judge stated that NSA interests trump THEIRS.

Steve

hey what do ya know! Jesse Ventura's Conspiracy Theory is on TruTV right now! Haven't seen this show since they aired the episode about the FEMA death camps.

Michael -- yelling tinfoil every time people are worried about something going on is a programmed response. It's called "slip programming". It is extremely easily achieved. I know this for a fact as it was the subject of my degree dissertation. If you find yourself automatically yelling about "tinfoil" and calling anyone with a concern over the power the gov is taking instead of looking at what the concerns are - you need to stop and wonder why you do so. If a government writing off your habeas corpus rights seems like something of no concern to you -- a few courses in good old fashioned political science/political history should sharpen up that sense of alarm a little bit.

The reason people draw parallels between empires such as Hitler's, Mussolini's, etc -- is because the parallels are THERE. The more legislation against our rights and the more corporate alliance between gov and corporations, the more we should be worried. Every instance of these conditions in the history of the world has gone very badly for its citizens -- yet you think we are going to break history somehow?

I'm not sorry for you -- I'm sorry for the fact that the freedom of every person in this country is at risk when too many people have egocentric beliefs that "we are different, more advanced, and above that sort of thing". That idea is proven wrong in EVERY instance - and is the most dangerous idea in the history of humankind - not just in politics, but in every aspect of life.

Ask yourself two things - we have written protection of our freedoms why? They are legislating against these freedoms why? If you can't get past those two questions without feeling a need to start taking a serious look at what is being done, then I say it is high time for you to get an education in politics at an Ivy League school - your stomach will turn and you will have trouble sleeping. Trust me on that one.

Kay -- I'm not sure we are discussing the same weapon. There is one that sends heat radiation and one that actually is lightning. I am talking about the one that they actually make lightning. The documents state that the lightning weapon is non-lethal. So are tasers, yet way over 300 people have been killed by them, and those are used one person at a time. The lightning weapon is far from "safe". Got jewelry on - or eyeglasses? Don't get caught in the area they let that thing off in. Certain medical conditions or just prone to heavy sweating? Oh oh. Electricity is not something that is as benign as they want you to believe. Their own test of these weapons proves that. Also consider what happens when someone with an "authority" problem decides to turn up the juice. Then there are the smaller considerations like what happens if your car just happens to be parked within range even if you are not part of the group that is being "subdued". Good luck starting it again.

There are just some weapons made for war that should never be used on civilians in their own country. In war a few casualties is something that is considered a "safe alternative" -- in a country that wants to use that on its own citizens because they didn't like having their rights violated it's a travesty and form of slavery to threaten people with electricity for civil disobedience in reaction to usurpation of rights. Right now they have the weaponry and all the legalities set up that they can use these weapons for forced obedience to draconian law. That is just wrong on every level.

I think the "heat" one you may be referring to is the ADS (Active Denial System). It is essentially a heat ray developed by Raytheon, developed for crowd control. It is non-lethal, but very painful.

I am not sure which technology the lightning one would be, never heard of that one, unless it is a directed Tesla coil of some sort. It seems that would require a lot of energy to direct I suppose, but then, it only takes only 100mA to stop your heart, under certain conditions.

But then, even a standard 9 volt battery can kill you...
Don't believe it?
http://www.darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin1999-50.html

It is IMPOSSIBLE to feel electricity unless it hits the nerves or burns you. There is a TINY portion of your heart that puts out a low power at a certain frequency. They are SO important that some people have a MINOR failure in them and could die ANY SECOND! Luckily, they have a mechanical device named after the cells which have an appropriate name. The device is known as a PACEMAKER!

Anyway, if ******ANY******* voltage or frequency overrides that LOW power, or interferes with the frequency, it ******CAN****** kill! The amount of power varies based on the frequency, distance, resistance, etc.... Basically, if it causes your heart to fail to do what it has to do, or gets it to do the opposite, it will cause a condition that could break the feedback that will cause it to beat, and your heart STOPS! If it isn't started in time, YOU'RE DEAD!

SO, basically, someone designing an electrical weapon that can deter an attacker but be NON lethal is doing a NEAR IMPOSSIBLE task! It has to be high enough to stun them, which makes it high enough to kill, but NOT high enough to kill. Since the two are mutually exclusive, they have to make the full power low enough to not do damage, and make sure that the shortest path through the circuit does NOT cross the heart!!!!!!!

With a taser, WHAT is the likelihood that the darts will be on both sides of the heart such that a line could connect them? Luckily, not TOO common. If you have some kind of ray, it will HAVE to use the ground as a ground, to really have an effect, and the chances of crossing the heart are greater. Remember, they MIGHT be holding metal, or a rod that is more conductive than they are. They might not have a foot on the ground. ALL that affects how the power would go through them.

Steve

And here I thought every lad was still issued a shillelagh... :rolleyes:
Did they run out?

But then, that hurley bugger looks like a hockey stick on steroids...
(or a baseball bat that got run over by a steamroller...:rolleyes

lol I'm not saying its impossible for a tazer or stun gun to kill somebody - that has been proven by the police plenty of times in the past.. it is POSSIBLE. anything is possible.

but its highly unlikely. i used it on myself when i got it to see what it would do. if i have to use it on someone else, i want to know exactly how bad its gonna be first.

that damn thing put 2 holes in my leg (through my pants) LOL

but then again, not only is it 5.8 million volts, it has 2 giant spikes on it.

heres a stock photo of it:



that thing HURTS. lol for real.

WTG,

If you have two holes in your pants, and put a TRILLION amps through it, it probably wouldn't kill you! In fact, I knew a guy, in highschool, that played on a high powered train, and got the wires wrapped around his legs(HIGH AMPERAGE HIGH VOLTAGE, and of course, thus, HIGH WATTAGE). He SURVIVED! His LEGS were destroyed, and were amputated, but he LIVED! Of course, THAT power was FAR more than your little tazer could ever generate. I wish I could remember his name, but I may be able to look it up. It happened around 1979.

One of the MAIN threats of death is the HEART. If the power doesn't cross IT, you will likely survive.

Steve

lol well yea, i know that.

i dunno if im agreeing with u or not, your posts are always so intense.. lol but im just sayin that its highly unlikely that someone will die from a tazer or stun gun. VERY unlikely.

if thats what u were saying, then yea i agree haha

This guy sure could have used that Thor Suit Sal! Ever hear of this fellow?

Story of a Man Who Was Struck By Lightning 7 Times

US Park Ranger Roy C. Sullivan from Virginia holds the record for the person most times struck by lightning - and living to tell the tale. Between 1942 and 1983, Roy has the dubious distinction of being struck by lightning seven times. He was known as the Human Lightning Rod.The first lightning strike in 1942 happened as he was working up in a lookout tower and the lighting bolt shot through his leg and knocked his big toenail off. In 1969 while he was driving along a mountain road a second strike burned off his eyebrows and knocked him unconscious. Another strike just a year later, while he was walking across his yard to get the mail, left his shoulder seared. He was standing in the office at the ranger station in 1972 when lightning set his hair on fire and Roy had to throw a bucket of water over his head to cool off. A year later, after his hair had grown back, a lightning bolt ripped through his hat and hit him on the head, setting his hair on fire again. It threw him out of his truck, knocked his left shoe off and seared his legs. A sixth strike hit him in 1976 while he was checking on a campsite, injuring his ankle. The last lightning bolt to hit Roy in 1977 happened while he was fishing. It sent him to hospital with chest and stomach burns. Roy Sullivan was never killed by lighting - he committed suicide while in his 70's in 1983 reportedly distraught over the loss of a woman.

Originally Posted by Michael Milken
I didn't yell anything, I'm just calling out the pattern of lies told by conspiracy theorists to show how your group of people are misinformed. You all are quick to act as if a person is brainwashed for paying you all no attention, but completely forgetting about your 0% success rate when it comes to predicting things that will happen. >>

That statement is close to meaningless, as you're just throwing out a statistic without any proof. First of all, what is a "conspiracy theorist" anyway? Anyone who questions the conventional media? If this is the case, many such conspiracies have turned out to be true. Btw, the majority of these issues don't deal with predictions, but about ongoing situations.

To give just one example, not long ago you were labeled a paranoid conspiracy theorist if you said it was dangerous to consume fluoride. Now, suddenly mainstream researchers are backing this up. Dangers of fluoride

"In paranoid thinking a person believes he has detected a conspiracy--that
is, a hidden (and malevolent) pattern in the behavior of friends, associates
or governments--where in fact no such pattern exists. If there IS such a
conspiracy, the subject may be profoundly anxious, but his thinking is not
necessarily paranoid.

A famous case involves James Forrestal, the first
U.S. Secretary of Defense. At the end of World War II, Forrestal was
convinced that Israeli secret agents were following him everywhere. His
physicians, equally convinced of the absurdity of this idee fixe, diagnosed
him as paranoid and confined him to an upper story of Walter Reed Army
Hospital, from which he plunged to his death, partly because of inadequate
supervision by hospital personnel, overly deferential to one of his exalted
rank. Later it was discovered that Forrestal was indeed being followed by
Israeli agents who were worried that he might reach a secret understanding
with representatives of Arab nations. Forrestal had other problems, but
having his valid perception labeled paranoid did not help his condition."
-- Carl Sagan, "The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human
Intelligence," (New York: Random House, 1977), p. 181.

Your Corn will thank you...and Monsanto will thank you...

Catch-22...

I've often almost joked, that it is interesting that you are supposedly innocent until proven guilty. That is often not true. You have to FIGHT to disprove a lot that you shouldn't have to.

Chemicals should be GUILTY until proven innocent, but often AREN'T! Further, there are loopholes that allow FOOD to be changed even MORE.

This potential has been known a LONG tme, and is why it is called ****FOOD**** and ***DRUG*** Administration. I LIKE corn, and don't want to see it disappear. 8-(

Steve

No one wants anyone's Corn Flakes to get soggy, but using corn for some products seems unnecessary, Education - A Zillions Uses for Corn! when other things could be substituted or utilized with no alternate affects on the product. (Aluminum? Spark Plugs?)

Corn producers would like to see the price go up, (naturally)...but they are largely subsidized to keep the costs of corn products low...good for them...bad for us.

I'm not saying I want the price of corn to rise...quite the opposite. It would be nice if they just used the "eating" parts for FOOD products, as intended...and the waste by-products for the rest of a lot of the other stuff. (imho)

Monsanto...bringers of DDT and Agent Orange...
please make me some corn...lol
They are the poster boys for corporate arrogance.

Bechtel corp. trying to 'own' the rain in Bolivia...
Patenting genes ....
mankind's ego never ends...
or does it?


Conspiracy theories are Lizard people and the Illuminati...etc.

The only real thing to fear is greed and big money

What corporations are doing is no theory.

Truth is always stranger than fiction...

Thom - Just because you BELIEVE her...don't mean she ain't a NUT! :rolleyes::p

---------Just Kidding!---------:p









Sponsored by

I apologize to the OP for going off topic here but the topic did morph in so many different directions. I hope you don't mind me following up.

Colonial era - most women worked in the home producing many of the family's needs.

19th century industrial revolution - goods formerly produced at home being produced in factories - more money was needed to buy such goods - women increasingly enter the workforce to earn that money.

Middle class women - acceptable and eventually expected for a single woman to work for money but she would leave outside work once married.

Immigrant women on the other hand had to work for money and saw work as a permanent situation.

Women worked primarily as domestics and in soft manufacturing (cloth versus steel) though there were some other kinds of jobs available.

Late 19th - early 20th century - even more women and children working outside the home because their men cannot earn enough wages in the increasingly money driven society.

Domestic work decreased as convenience saving machines, like washing machines, were manufactured. More importantly as non-domestic work increased so did wages. People who employed domestics could not keep up with the wage increase.

Women increasingly moved into clerical positions that were a result of the money economy and more complex business models. And while the work was cleaner it was still often piece work. All workers were losing their status as craftsmen as machines and corporations grew.

During WWI, there was an increase in hard manufacturing and a really big demand. Women were recruited to take up this slack, BUT this did not mean there were more women in the workforce. What it did mean is less women were working in domestic, soft manufacturing and agriculture. It was the same women just different work. The only increases in women in the workforce was as a steady percentage of increase of population. The demand for WWI manufacturing was from Europe. The US didn't enter the war until 1917 so it wasn't like we pulled in women to replace men.

The Depression years, nearly 1/4 of American women were employed for money but 9 out of 10 were still clerks and factory workers and service/domestic. Only 1 in 10 was a professional and of professionals, 75% were teachers and nurses.

WWII and Rosie the Riveter. Once again there were women already working who moved into the higher paid jobs of hard manufacturing that became available during wartime. But this time they were replacing men who had gone to war and an increase in demand. So more women came from the home into the paid workplace.

Women were expected to vacate these jobs when the men returned and many did. Many returned to homemaking and post war prosperity made it possible for one wage earner to comfortably support a family, especially if that wage earner was male.

So while women were producing the baby boom generation, many of them reared children at home. But the genie was already out of the bottle. The baby boom generation received more education and the sexual revolution made sure women got a bigger piece of the schooling pie than they had previously. At the same time, some of their mothers who had to remain in the moneyed workforce also sought advanced education.

So while women made up 25% of the total workforce in the early part of the century, they made up nearly 30% by 1950 and about 47% now. In 1950, 34% of all US women worked for money. In 1970, 43% and in 1990, 57%. As of 2000, that number was just over 60%.

To see the contrast with men, 1950 - 86%, 1970 - 80%, 1990 - 76%. And in 2000 74%. So while there has been a decrease in the % of men employed, it is not large enough to account for the increase in women.

The only plausible answer I can see how so many women were absorbed into the workforce has to be growth. Obviously the reasons so many more women are in the workforce is another discussion. Briefly the breakdown of the nuclear family with more women as heads of households and of course birth control.

So while I agree with you Steve that women were always there, the numbers do say there was a steep increase in the percentage of working outside the home women between 1950 and 2000. My off the top of my head number of double was incorrect over a 20 year span but not over a 50 year span. The difference in my perception and the real span of time is probably do to a myopic view from seeing it day to day versus looking at the whole like I did this afternoon.

LEELEE!

You said something very interesting. Basically, the number of women working didn't increase AT ALL!!!!!!! 19th century revolution, on you have a depulication of thought there.

Women decided to work, so work couldn't get done, and it was purchased from companies that SURPRISE, had WOMEN working to fulfill those needs! It;s almost like Mrs. Fields. She is less able to cook cookies for her family, but cooks cookies for others.

AND, did you know that banks had "fainting couches", and were artistic because of WOMEN being there? They may well have hired WOMEN for planning that!

In short, women jaining the workforce created a need because they WERE needed! That continues TO THIS DAY! Let's say that a couple has a child. If they aren't there to watch the child, they have to hire someone ELSE. Even taxes increase the need for an accountant, and a lot of THEM are women. Of course, TAXES add to inflation and reduce income, so the need to work is further increased.

OH, and when I said that maybe 60% of women work, I meant in TOTAL, not as part of the workforce. I imagine women are probably roughly about 50% of the workforce. STILL, some don't want to and/or don't have to work.

Steve

i think every one should handle differently because girls are so complex to understand. Every girl is different from other and they require different type of care and behaviour.
it's different for every body
depends on your love one
one may be caring other may be demanding

Total percent of women working 60%. Percentage of women in total workforce 47%.

Yup, I see what you are saying.

While doing some digging earlier, I found it interesting that during the WWI era when women were needed in the factories because of increased production, the were offered perks like onsite child care. I had never heard of that before. Thought it was a more recent phenomenon. Also, they had flex hours and job sharing.

As for fainting couches I remember them as a kid. Every rest room had a couch where a woman could lie down if she needed to. I'm not sure when they disappeared.

Oh, great...the MEN'S bathroom is lucky if it has urinal with a sign above it that says "Don't Eat the Big White Mint"!

The WOMEN'S bathrooms are "luxuriously appointed" with "fainting couches" (which went out with whalebone corsets and "the vapors") -

No WONDER you go in groups! It's like an Expedition going back in time!

jk ladies...don't beat me up :rolleyes:

For anybody who happens to be reading this now -a little after 9 pm EST -there's a live online radio show that's going to talk about this "martial law" bill. It's an interview show -I believe they're going to be talking to an ex-CIA agent. If you miss it, this site has shows almost every night on many interesting topics.

Project Nsearch - Awakening the World with Truth and Creating a Better Future.

When I was a teenager and there was a bad hurricane half of the state in lived under martial law for a few months. The government took over and the police supported them having national guard on ever street corner. You had to be indoors at a certain time or you would be arrested. It wasn't like in the movies but it was definitely crazy. You couldn't drive down a street unless you belonged there and you had the army checkpoints everywhere.