Working at Sanborns: Gender, Paternalism, and Union Movement (1920-1948)

Abstract

Between 1920 and 1948, Sanborns developed into Mexico’s most prestigious social institution. As the business evolved from a drugstore into a modern department store, the owners hired a redominantly female workforce to cater to visiting customers. This work explores how Sanborns adopted a paternalistic labor system and gendered hierarchy over its workforce. Women workers rejected this paternalism, motivated by eruptions of outside organizations, fellow employees, and visiting customers. Workingwomen at Sanborns navigated around gender, race, and class divisions during their work routines. This work observes how precarious labor conditions at Sanborns led to labor movements directed against the store management.

Keywords

• Sanborns
• working-women
• paternalism
• gender
• protests