ving spaces. It was not uncommon for a family of seven to live in a one-bedroom apartment with little means of proper ventilation. Because most immigrant groups moved to places inhabited by acquaintances, the neighborhood ghettos comprised families of the same backgrounds and facilitated the development of such areas labeled “little Italy” or “Hebrew town” in which “people continued to speak their own language, establish their own newspapers, and created atmospheres that eased the transitions.” (American Identity Explorer, CD-ROM)Employment took on similar themes across all groups of immigrants with most taking jobs in textile factories. Here, employers took advantage of immigrants’ precarious positions and created appalling work conditions. A typical workday lasted ten to twelve hours and was performed in hazardous and unsanitary environments. In addition, the pay was meager at best, which required many women and children to contribute to the family’s income. Outside from textile jobs, men worked construction jobs, pushed peddler carts, or found employment in bakeries or retail. Women also took jobs in textile factories or worked in laundries and tailoring shops, often working under the same conditions as their husbands. It was also common for women to take on “home work” in order so that they could work extra hours. Many children were required to contribute and helping their mother’s with this work was one way in which they could do this. Common to all immigrants, regardless of type of employment, were low wages, hazardous conditions, and extreme demands in order to economically survive.The one experience shared by absolutely all arriving groups was the transition into American life and all the dynamics that it entailed. Suddenly, immigrants were faced with the pressures to “Americanize” while still struggling to preserve their native cultures. C...
