How the Radium Girls Fought Back
Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
The men were protected from led, not the women
In the 1930s, women working in radium diaphragtries were dismissed and shamed for their pain and illness caused by radium exposure. The community doctors and the companies themselves refused to believe them, fearing the impact on the factory and the livelihoods of many. The women faced financial hardship, criticism, and isolation. Despite this, the women showed tremendous courage and persistence in seeking justice. The story highlights the dismissal of women's pain and the expendability of female workers. The shocking part is that the radium firms were aware of the danger but failed to inform the women. In contrast, the men working in the labs were protected and warned about the risks. This inequality and negligence are significant and would have resulted in a different outcome if the victims were men.
