"The workingmen have perceived that women are in the field of industry to stay; and they see, too, that there can not be two standards of work and wages for any trade without constant menace to the higher standard"

Florence Kelley's quote addresses the integration of women into the industrial workforce throughout a time when there was considerable social and economic change. Her words highlight the acknowledgment amongst working males that women were becoming a long-term part of the manpower, and she underscores the ramifications this has for standards of work and incomes.

Kelley asserts that the integration of ladies into markets typically dominated by males creates an essential shift in labor dynamics. The "workingmen" have pertained to understand that females's presence in these fields is not a short-lived or short lived advancement; rather, it is a fundamental change in the labor market. As women stake their claim in numerous trades, the requirement for equitable standards across genders becomes apparent. Kelley recommends that having different standards of work and incomes for men and women within the very same market would produce significant socio-economic stress. The existence of two various requirements postures a "continuous threat" to the preservation of the higher requirement, generally related to male employees.

By explaining this hazard, Kelley is advocating for equality and the elimination of discriminatory practices in the labor market. She suggests that if females are paid less or are held to various work requirements, it will inherently cheapen the labor performed by all workers, no matter gender. This possible erosion of the higher requirement might cause animosity and dispute in between male and female employees, as well as a basic degradation of working conditions and pay.

Kelley's reflection is a call to action for gender equality in the workplace. She promotes the concept that fair and equal requirements are useful not just for women however likewise for male employees who might deal with downward pressure on their wages and conditions. Ultimately, she is advocating for solidarity amongst all employees to promote fair labor practices that support both men and women equally, enhancing the need for unity and equality in the fight for much better working conditions.