Life in a men's co-operative housekeeping establishment is usually
more difficult, for upon them falls the burden of maintaining
cleanliness in the household, and in many cases preparing their own
meals. Some of the Mexican men visited at nine o'clock in the evening
were preparing food for the next day's lunch. An important
consideration here is the high cost of living under such conditions.
The immigrant woman may not be a skillful buyer, but the immigrant man
is evidently a most extravagant one. Among the Mexicans, for example,
it was found that the men living in co-operative groups paid
practically as much for the food which they themselves prepared as the
men living in boarding houses paid for board and room. Their food cost
seven to eight dollars per man per week.
These studies showed the same lack of opportunities for wholesome
recreation and for meeting nice girls, as well as the same
restlessness of the men as did earlier studies. This was especially
noticeable among the Mexicans, who spoke with longing of their Mexican
dances that lasted two days and were held almost every week-end, and
of the band concerts to which they could often go. No matter how poor
their furniture, most of them had one or two musical instruments which
they played, and usually there was one phonograph for the group. They
found these poor substitutes for group music, where they could have
not only the music but the social time.
In brief, these studies of nonfamily men in 1919 show that the problem
of adequate housing and some form of normal social life for the men
who come ahead of their families is a recurring one. The nationality
of the group changes as one immigration wave succeeds another. With
the change in nationality come minor changes in the needs and desires
of the group, but the main problem remains the same. It should never
be forgotten that the impressions these men receive during their early
life in the United States form the basis of their judgment concerning
American life. Moreover, the life they lead during this period of
separation from their families must inevitably affect their family
relationships when family life is re-established, whether it be in
this country or in the country from which they come.
The first national recognition of the needs of the men was evident in
the plans of the United States Housing Corporation.[3] These provided
for separate lodging houses for men, where each man had a room of his
own, with an adequate amount of air space, and where bathing and
toilet facilities were provided. Recreational needs were met by having
a smoking room, reading room, and billiard room in each house, and,
unless provided elsewhere in the community, bowling alleys in the
basement. It has been repeatedly emphasized to us that the men would
not be satisfied unless a lodging house for them were run by some one
who could speak their language, knew their national tastes, and could
understand their problems. The availability of houses of this type to
the immigrant men in nonfamily groups would depend to a great extent
on their administration, but it is apparent that such a housing plan
is not impossible of attainment.