Lost out at Sea on “Floating Palaces”: Examining the Overlooked Tale of the Ocean Liner Stewardess, 1890–1919

This paper examines the lives and experiences of women working aboard ocean liners during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. During this era of “floating palaces,” women went to work at sea as stewardesses and nurses. By relying on the testimonies of stewardess Violet Jessop and other unnamed working women aboard ocean liners from 1890 to 1919, I argue how these women had more freedom and opportunities than their land counterparts and challenged the notion of the sea as a male-dominated space. Glossing over their stories undermines their efforts and reduces them to a secondary role in the transatlantic travel narrative. This paper focuses on women employed on ocean liners as they navigated the organization and structure of their ships, social standards at the time—including their experience with sexual assault and disasters—and opportunities available to them. Their lives showcase the opportunities and freedoms presented with employment on ocean liners.