Andrews, Irene Osgood

About the author

Irene Osgood Andrews (1879–1963) was an American social economist and labor reform advocate, known for her in-depth studies on the socioeconomic impacts of industrial and wartime conditions on vulnerable populations. Frequently collaborating with progressive-era organizations, Andrews focused her research on labor legislation, women’s workplace rights, and child welfare. Her publication Economic Effects of the World War upon Women and Children in Great Britain illustrates her methodical, data-driven approach to social analysis, as well as her conviction that policy must be shaped by empirical evidence regarding how conflict reshapes labor and family life.

During World War I, Britain experienced a massive upheaval in workforce composition: men left for the front, while women and adolescents took on roles in factories, clerical offices, and agriculture at unprecedented scales. In Economic Effects of the World War, Andrews dissected how this shift impacted wages, working hours, and living standards, particularly for the lower-income strata. She drew from official statistics, factory inspection reports, and firsthand accounts, documenting how many women faced both new opportunities and new forms of exploitation. While elevated wages for munitions workers temporarily alleviated financial distress for some families, Andrews highlighted that the abrupt return of men post-war and the uncertain status of women’s employment often led to instability and a rollback of wage gains.

Equally significant was Andrews’ analysis of children’s welfare during wartime. She noted how economic and emotional strain—particularly for single-income families if a father was killed or incapacitated—forced adolescents into work earlier, sometimes undermining formal schooling. Beyond these immediate hardships, Andrews saw enduring consequences on child development, underscoring the need for robust child labor laws and social services that could mitigate the worst outcomes of economic disruption. Although her tone largely reflected progressive enthusiasm for regulatory interventions, Andrews balanced policy prescriptions with careful documentation to support her claims.

Stylistically, Irene Osgood Andrews wrote in a clear, understated manner, aiming to reach policymakers and fellow social scientists as much as a general readership. She believed that methodical evidence-gathering—surveys, comparative studies, interviews—was the best way to advocate for legislative measures, be it minimum wage standards or enhanced child labor protections. Her work dovetails with broader progressive-era endeavors on both sides of the Atlantic, which insisted that women’s evolving role in the labor force must be accompanied by protective laws and recognition of their rights as wage earners. Today, Economic Effects of the World War upon Women and Children in Great Britain remains a historically significant text for examining how war can produce contradictory labor outcomes, spurring societal change even while introducing new strains on family structures and youth well-being.