Part 8/11:
Widespread misconceptions surrounded the sanitation of tenement homes inhabited by cigar-making workers. While Riis acknowledged legitimate concerns about the living conditions of these immigrants, he argued that the realities were often exaggerated. His observations noted that while families were living in poverty, they generally upheld better cleanliness and hygiene than other sectors within the same socioeconomic stratum.
Despite unfavorable opinions about health linked to constant tobacco exposure, a closer examination ultimately revealed that Bohemian workers suffered from diseases, such as tuberculosis, at rates comparable to other groups. The more pressing issue remained deteriorating wages exacerbated by high rents, which were the root of their suffering.