Open Collections Program - Student Dialogue

Open Collections Program > Women Working > Teachers > Soap and Settlements > "Acme Soap"

Some 8th Graders Discuss the Trade Card "Acme Soap"

CLARE: If we’re saying this is, like, the outcome of a immigrant in a settlement house, who uses Acme soap, she’s, like, really white, and already looks, like, American. And I don’t know if that’s, like, saying, you’ll really, like, become American—like, you’ll even look American, if you use Acme soap, or if it’s just, like—um, like—they’re showing that, like, Americans are, um—like, the standard—’cause they’re saying, like, “leader in quality,” and if this is an American they’re showing, like—oh, I don’t know.

ZACH: I was going to say that it’s kind of showing that, uh, it’s targeted, like, an outcome of the immigrant girls—somebody who looks like this, right here, because she’s got a tea cup in her hand, and it’s like, she’s sipping tea really daintily— (Josie later pointed out that the cup must have held soap; Clare still thought it important that it was a tea cup.)
DAN: Yeah.
ZACH: —which is something that was, like, a big deal back then.
DAN: She’s holding it, like—like—
REBECCA: —with—with the pinky out.
DAN: Yeah.

These exchanges were part of the longer discussion below.
For teacher commentary and the entire context of these conversations, download the case study Using Women Working Resources in Schools.

CLARE: It’s, like, clearly an advertisement.
REBECCA: Yeah.
JOSIE: Yes.
DAN: Yeah.
JOSIE: It’s saying they’re the best.

CLARE: Well, I think it’s targeted to people who own the [settlement] houses, and have to provide, like, supplies to the houses. It’s not, like—I don’t think it’s targeted to the girls who go there but, like, to the people who are going to be buying it to, like, provide—
TEACHER: And what makes you think that, Clare?
CLARE: Well, because—the girls aren’t going to be, like, ooh, let’s use Acme soap, like, to wash our hands. Laughter. They have to have—I’m sure it’s, like, some kind of rule, like, after classes, like, wash your hands, or something.
CLARE: She’s, like, drinking tea, and that’s probably—they’re trying to transform the immigrants into—like, an American, like—um, perfect, like, girl—um—
REBECCA: They’re assimilating immigrants.
CLARE: Yeah, so they’re saying, if you use Acme soap, like, this is what the people in the settlement houses will turn out like—with, like—well brought up—in the houses.
TEACHER: So, if—if they use Acme soap—
CLARE: Then, these—
TEACHER: —the girls in the settlement houses—
CLARE: —will turn out like the picture.
REBECCA: Yeah.
CLARE: And that’s, like, the image that the settlement owners are looking for—
DAN: Hm.
CLARE: —to, like, transform the immigrants.

DAN: So, it’s like, you’re immigrants—
CLARE: It’s like, once you get through the settlement house—once you get through the settlement house, you’ll— it’s like, if—
DAN: You’ll turn out like that.
CLARE: —it’s like, this is a step—using Acme soap is a step—
REBECCA: A step closer to—
CLARE: —to becoming like this.
REBECCA: Yeah.

CLARE: If we’re saying this is, like, the outcome of a immigrant in a settlement house, who uses Acme soap, she’s, like, really white, and already looks, like, American. And I don’t know if that’s, like, saying, you’ll really, like, become American—like, you’ll even look American, if you use Acme soap, or if it’s just, like—um, like—they’re showing that, like, Americans are, um—like, the standard—’cause they’re saying, like, “leader in quality,” and if this is an American they’re showing, like—oh, I don’t know.

ZACH: I was going to say that it’s kind of showing that, uh, it’s targeted, like, an outcome of the immigrant girls—somebody who looks like this, right here, because she’s got a tea cup in her hand, and it’s like, she’s sipping tea really daintily— (Josie later pointed out that the cup must have held soap; Clare still thought it important that it was a tea cup.)
DAN: Yeah.
ZACH: —which is something that was, like, a big deal back then.
DAN: She’s holding it, like—like—
REBECCA: —with—with the pinky out.
DAN: Yeah.

CLARE: Oh—um—those who give—um. Yeah, “Those who have given—”
REBECCA: Yeah.
CLARE: “—the closest attention to improving the conditions of the poor, and to amalgamating the enormous number of foreigners that Europe annually pours into America, have concluded that the improvement must come through the children.”
DAN: Yeah.
CLARE: And that’s like, okay, if you’re starting with the children, the only way to get them to, like, the high level that Americans are, is to use Acme soap, ’cause it’s the best quality and, like, this is—this girl is, like, how they’ll turn out.

For teacher commentary and the entire context of these conversations, download the case study Using Women Working Resources in Schools.