Share this Story : The Sarnia Observer Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Reflections: A look at laundries from a century ago

The laundry business provided Chinese immigrants with stable employment during a time of discrimination

The laundry business was a significant part of the Chinese community in North America during the mid to late 1800s and into the early 1900s. During a period of intense discrimination and racism towards Chinese immigrants in North America, the laundry business was a way for people arriving in Canada to find employment, become self-employed, earn an income, and survive in a society that was not particularly welcoming to families arriving from China.

These laundry businesses also allowed families to have stable intergenerational employment as the businesses were often passed down to younger family members. During this period, laundry was considered “women’s work” in Western cultures, and it was also a time when it was not easy and even frowned upon for women to establish their own businesses. This meant there was a noticeable gap in the development of this industry that entrepreneurs from China were able to fill while being systematically excluded from other employment options. These........

© Sarnia Observer