Italian American Women Working In Silicon Valley

Because men usually worked in the fields of the orchards, they have historically been attributed all of the work in the agricultural realm of Silicon Valley. However, women played a huge role in this industry as well,  not only through the canneries, but through their contributions to the fields too. Many canneries were located in Santa Clara Valley, where many Italian Americans were hired to work. Here, workers would stand in lines canning produce that came from the orchards of Santa Clara Valley. Although many workers of canneries were thought to be men, many Italian women helped bring home money for their families by working in these canneries as well. Many women worked at these canneries at a young age, including Libby Stewart, a woman who worked at the Drew Canning Company in Campbell during high school, canning mainly apricots, as well as other fruits. Many women share this characteristic of working in a cannery at a young age in order to further support their families income (Thompson).

Credit: Sophia Sordello