27: Brushes with Danger: Radium Girls and Their Pursuit of Justice

Insomniacs: The Podcast

"Radium Girls" recounts the harrowing tale of a group of female factory workers from the early 20th century. Their employment involved painting watch dials with a luminous paint that boasted radium's celebrated luminescent properties and alleged health benefits. However, the tragic reality, now known, is that radium is highly radioactive and poses extreme danger.

What transforms this narrative into a shocking and infuriating saga is the utter disregard displayed by management toward the well-being of these factory workers. In this episode, delve into the incredulous fight these resilient women waged to expose the peril inherent in their jobs, uncover instances of corporate negligence, and explore the disturbing connection between the hazardous practices they were "encouraged" (read: "forced") to undertake. Join us to understand the uphill battle these women faced to secure any form of assistance, support, or acknowledgment from the companies that callously ignored the truth when it finally came to light.
Thank you to our producer, Sean for being amazing!!
Stay Spooky, Stay Safe, and Sweet Dreams!
SOURCES:
Wikipedia: Radium Girls
Radium Girls: The Women Who Fought for Their Lives in a Killer Workplace
Radium Girls: Living Dead Women
WIRED: The Radium Girls
New Jersey’s ‘Radium Girls’ and the NIST-Trained Scientist Who Came to Their Aid
The Story Of The Radium Girls And Their Decades-Long Fight For Justice

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