The spelling of "hired girls" is straightforward. "Hired" is spelled as it sounds /haɪrd/ with a long "i" sound, while "girls" is spelled with a short "i" sound /ɡɜːrlz/. The word refers to female domestic workers who are employed and paid by a family. The term was commonly used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries until the decline of domestic service as a profession. Today, it is considered an outdated term, and "domestic worker" is preferred.
Hired girls are typically young women or girls who are employed to work in someone else's household or farm in exchange for wages. They are often hired on a temporary basis to assist with various domestic or agricultural tasks. The specific duties assigned to hired girls can vary depending on the employer's needs and preferences.
In a domestic setting, hired girls may be responsible for tasks such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, and childcare. They may also assist with general household management, including grocery shopping and running errands. Hired girls may work under the supervision of the lady of the house or a housekeeper, and their responsibilities can range from basic chores to more specialized roles.
On a farm, hired girls typically perform tasks related to agricultural labor. This can include helping with planting, harvesting, tending to animals, and maintaining the property. They may work alongside other farmhands and be expected to actively participate in physical labor.
Historically, hired girls played a critical role in many rural and urban households, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They provided invaluable assistance to families who required additional labor for both running a household and managing a farm. However, the prevalence of hired girls has decreased significantly over time due to changes in labor practices and societal norms.
The phrase "hired girls" is not a specific word with a distinct etymology.
However, the term "hired girls" typically refers to domestic servants or female employees who were hired to work in households during earlier times. They were often unmarried women or young girls seeking employment to help support themselves or their families. The usage of this phrase dates back to a time when it was more common for families to hire domestic help for various household tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, or taking care of children.
The term "hired girl" can be seen as a combination of "hired", which means paid employment, and "girl", which historically referred to young unmarried women. It reflects the gendered nature of domestic work in the past and the societal norms surrounding household labor.