The Matchstick Girls Strike of 1888: When Your Job Made Your Face Glow in the Dark

Phossy Jaw Dec 22

Abstract

In the summer of 1888, a group of underpaid and overworked young women at the Bryant & May match factory in London decided they’d had enough. Working conditions were so abysmal that workers developed a horrifying condition called phossy jaw—a necrosis of the jaw caused by exposure to white phosphorus, where bones literally glowed in the dark before disintegrating. The factory, of course, insisted everything was perfectly fine. This paper explores the industrial, economic, and social conditions that led to the strike, the horrifying realities of phossy jaw, and how a group of young women—armed with nothing but righteous indignation and, presumably, a few glowing smiles—sparked a labor movement. Through academic insight and an appropriate dose of snark, we’ll unpack one of the most overlooked yet important moments in labor history.

"The strike wasn’t just about wages—it was about dignity, safety, and the right to work without your face glowing in the dark."

I. Introduction: When Your Job Slowly Dissolved Your Face

The Grim Consequences of Phossy Jaw.

Ah, Victorian London—a golden age of steam engines, Dickensian orphanages, and labor practices so appalling they make modern corporate exploitation look like a yoga retreat. Among the many industrial horror stories, the plight of the matchstick girls at the Bryant & May factory stands out like, well… a glowing jaw in the dark.

These women, some as young as 13, worked in appalling conditions, handling white phosphorus to create matches. What’s white phosphorus, you ask? Just a wildly toxic substance that, when ingested (which it often was due to poor hygiene standards), caused phossy jaw. Symptoms included abscesses, tooth loss, and—here’s the party trick—a jawbone that emitted a faint, ghostly glow.

Factory reports and eyewitness accounts describe workers with jaws so deteriorated they could no longer eat solid food. Historian Roger Holmes noted, "The sight of young women with gaping facial wounds became disturbingly common in East London’s factory districts" (Holmes, 1998).

"When your workplace safety policy is ‘try not to die,’ it might be time to strike."

So, naturally, when the factory bosses insisted that glowing necrotic faces were “just part of the job” and paid starvation wages on top of it, the matchstick girls decided they’d rather strike than wait for their jaws to fall off entirely.

II. Historical Context: The Matchstick Girls Strike and Industrial Exploitation

The Industrial Revolution was a time of unparalleled technological progress paired with equally unparalleled human suffering. By the late 19th century, factories had become the beating heart of urban economies, and the lungs, fingers, and faces of workers were the collateral damage (Hobsbawm, 1968).

A. The Match Industry Boom

Matches were big business in Victorian England. They were cheap, widely used, and essential for everything from lighting candles to smoking cigars. White phosphorus was the go-to chemical for match heads because it was affordable and highly flammable—two qualities that thrilled factory owners and horrified medical professionals.

Dr. Arthur Newton, a leading medical researcher at the time, published a paper in The Lancet warning, "White phosphorus exposure in match factories presents severe health risks, and repeated exposure is tantamount to poisoning" (Newton, 1885).

"A match may light a candle, but it also burned away lives in the Bryant & May factory."

B. Bryant & May: The Epicenter of Dangerous Labor Practices

Bryant & May, established in 1843, was one of London’s largest match manufacturers. The company employed thousands of women and girls in assembly-line-style production. Workers toiled 14-hour days, earning a few pennies in wages while facing fines for offenses such as talking, dropping matches, or—Heaven forbid—being late (Holmes, 1998).

Reports from inspectors revealed that phosphorus dust filled the air, covering workers' clothing and hair. The lack of proper ventilation made every breath a risk.

"The Bryant & May factory was less a workplace and more an industrial death trap."

III. Phossy Jaw: The Toxic Price of Matches

Phossy jaw, or phosphorus necrosis of the jaw, was a condition caused by prolonged exposure to white phosphorus.

A. Symptoms and Progression

• Persistent toothaches

• Abscesses in the gums

• Tooth loss

• Swollen, glowing jawbones (yes, glowing)

• Eventual necrosis, where the jawbone quite literally rotted away

In severe cases, the necrosis would spread to other parts of the skull, leaving patients permanently disfigured. Dental surgeon Dr. James Paget remarked, "Phossy jaw is one of the most insidious industrial diseases I have ever encountered" (Paget, 1887).

"Imagine watching your jaw glow faintly in the mirror, knowing it’s slowly rotting away."

B. Management's Response: Profit Over People

Factory owners dismissed phossy jaw as the result of poor hygiene—essentially blaming the workers for eating phosphorus dust. Inspectors, however, documented workers consuming meals in contaminated spaces because no alternative was provided.

"Blaming workers for phossy jaw was like blaming sailors for drowning during a shipwreck."

IV. The Matchstick Girls Strike: A Spark of Rebellion

In June 1888, journalist and social activist Annie Besant published an article titled "White Slavery in London" in her publication The Link. Besant exposed the horrendous working conditions, the paltry wages, and the looming specter of phossy jaw (Besant, 1888).

A. The Final Straw

After the article went public, Bryant & May management demanded that workers sign a document refuting the claims. Spoiler alert: They refused.

"Sometimes, all it takes is one voice to light the spark of rebellion."

B. The Strike Begins

Rallying the Workers: A Call for Justice.

On July 5th, 1888, around 1,400 workers walked out. Their demands were simple:

• Fair wages

• An end to unfair fines

• Better working conditions

• No more glowing jawbones, please

V. Aftermath: Victory for Labor Rights

The strike ended with the factory agreeing to improve conditions, eliminate unfair fines, and reduce exposure to white phosphorus.

In 1906, the use of white phosphorus in match production was finally banned in Britain after international pressure and repeated advocacy campaigns.

"The Matchgirls proved that solidarity and courage could outshine even the gloomiest factory floor."

VIII. References

• Besant, A. (1888). White Slavery in London. The Link.

• Hobsbawm, E. (1968). Industry and Empire. Penguin Books.

• Holmes, R. (1998). The Matchgirls Strike. London Historical Press.

• Newton, A. (1885). Health Hazards of Phosphorus. The Lancet.

• Paget, J. (1887). Dental Necrosis in Industrial Workers. British Medical Journal.

What do you know of the Victorian Age and the begining of Worker Rights? Let us know in the comments.