THE STUDENT AS STRIKEBREAKER - COLLEGE YOUTH AND THE CRISIS OF MASCULINITY IN THE EARLY-20TH-CENTURY

During the first quarter of the twentieth century, male college studen ts represented a major, and often critically important source of strik ebreakers. While administrators frowned on many student extra-curricul ar activities, they strongly encouraged strikebreaking. Students enthu siastically embraced strikebreaking not just to display antagonism tow ard labor, but even more importantly to prove their manhood. Strikebre aking provided the collegian with his best opportunity, short of milit ary combat, to test his strength and nerve. It exposed him to danger a nd provided an opportunity to fight. The early twentieth century ''cri sis of masculinity'' in the upper and middle classes was manifested in men's repeated efforts to demonstrate their virility. Most men were i nvolved in violent sports only vicariously, as spectators, but strikeb reaking permitted direct participation in ''daring deeds.'' Engineerin g students were also drawn into strikebreaking by their profession's n ew antipathy toward labor. Management coveted their services because t hey often represented the only available pool of skilled labor.