How do you think today's world would be different had The Radium Girls not fought back against the radium companies?

How do you think today's world would be different had The Radium Girls not fought back against the radium companies?

The way The Radium Girls fought back against the companies that were harming them directly led to increased worker safety protections. Employees and their families might not have the right to sue companies that cause them harm or death (either through long-term exposure to hazardous conditions or even because of accidents) were it not for the strength, courage, and perseverance of these young women and their families.

I thank each and everyone of them for having the courage to fight back. What they did for society as a whole made working life better for all. My mother never worked outside the home so she had no idea what was going on in the business world. Had these girls not fought in the 20's and 30's, those of us entering the work force in the 60's and 70's would have had it rough. I had to fight for equality/equal pay; at least they fought for health and no harm, just another wrinkle ironed out for us up and coming!! Can't imagine what my Granddaughter will have to fight for!?!

One of the things I liked most about the book was the epilog and how the women's fight directly affected the precautions taken while working on the Manhattan Project. I hate to think what would have happened if no one had taken the girls seriously. I really think they were the first, at least the first I heard of, to make big companies accountable for the health of the people who worked for them and the safety of the communities around them. These companies thought they were invincible. With the women's help, history has proven they aren't.

I was surprised to learn of the part that that these women's battles played in the formation of OSHA as well as other labor reforms. Of course, there are still instances today where corporations mistreat workers, but I think about how much worse it would have been without the courage of these brave women.

The absolute dedication of the these women to fighting for their own health and safety and that of other women similarly affected resulted in an improved worker's compensation system and attention to workspace safety at the federal level through OSHA. Clearly industry was not willing to police itself on these fronts, so their efforts made a huge difference.

One of my friend's fathers worked on the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos. He died of cancer, she has had cancer and several of her siblings died at a fairly early age of cancer and one of them was born with severe birth defects. She has always told me the family felt it was the result of his exposure to the radioactivity involved, including at Trinity Site

When people take a stand against injustices it may be a difficult path but like with the radium girls it usually truly improves our world and gives others a model to follow...

Nothing like being called out and held accountable to make lasting changes! Without the courage of the Radium Girls I think it would have taken another disaster where many people were affected to shake things up for employee's rights and safety.

If not for the perseverance of these brave women there would have been a whole lot more deaths. More agony and disability and disfigurement and suffering.

There would have been more death and suffering. Due to these women and others like them, things like OSHA, Workers Comp, Disability and other worker protections have come about.

I agree with comments above that the tragic health effects of radium and the Radium Girls' fight have helped to ensure workers are protected. However, the battle against corporate greed at the expense of workers' safety continues. Just recently, coal company managers were exposed for lying about health safety issues in Kentucky as an example. People complain about government regulations as being anti-business and anti-jobs, but many of those regulations protect workers and our environment. If people continue to endorse policies that gut these regulations in the name of job growth or business interests, the Radium Girls' fight won't mean much.