THE POLITICS OF PROTECTION - STATE MINIMUM-WAGE AND MAXIMUM HOURS LAWS FOR WOMEN IN THE UNITED-STATES, 1870-1930

This article examines the factors influencing the enactment of protect ive legislation for women, specifically maximum hours and minimum wage laws, by state lawmakers in the United States between 1870 and 1930. Traditional class theories of the state argue that employers are gener ally able to shape state policies to suit their interests. Yet, althou gh employers staunchly opposed protective laws, most states enacted su ch laws. This article seeks to understand the conditions under which s ocial groups, such as the women's reform groups who supported protecti ve laws, are able to win legislative reforms in the face of employer r esistance. Four conditions are found that allowed a gendered movement to counter the economic interests of employers: the women's groups' ab ility to form organizations and coalitions with powerful political act ors, their use of a legitimating ideology, historically specific circu mstances that reduced employer opposition, and the nature of the parti cular form of legislation being demanded.