The
petition that your question references is a petition to improve working conditions in the
factories. While the girls are paid to work in the factories, they are
worked extremely hard in conditions that are not always safe for the girls. These difficult
working conditions often result in injuries to the factory girls.
Whilemight agree with the petition in concept, she doesn't sign the petition for two
reasons. Fear and selfishness.
Her fear is a legitimate fear. Girls that
have signed the petition are blacklisted from the factories. That means that they are fired,
and other factory owners will refuse to hire them. Signing the petition basically guarantees
job loss and loss of income. Throughout the novel, Lyddie is motivated to be financially
independent and pay off her family's debt. She simply cannot bear the thought of being fired.
Selfishly, Lyddie doesn't sign the petition, because as more and more girls
get blacklisted, Lyddie gets more and more work. That increased work load translates to
increased income for Lyddie.
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