Boston Associates was a name used to describe multiple manufacturers, who established the factories in Lowell, Massachusetts.  This organization needed thousands of workers to run the machinery and do other tasks in the textile factories.  Most of these workers were women.

In order to attract female workers, Boston Associates promised high wages.  Women could earn much more money working in factories than they could teaching school, working as domestic servants, or doing other typical jobs performed by females at the time.  

Young women had to chance to live independently in Lowell, without the watchful eyes of their parents.  Though factory employees worked long hours, there were plenty of things to do in their free time.  There were lectures to attend and academic courses to take.

Traditionally, women and girls living on farms performed the tasks of spinning and weaving.  Thread and cloth were sold and traded locally.  When factories began producing affordable cloth, there was less of a demand for hand spun thread and hand woven cloth.  Women and girls working in factories could send some of their earnings home to their families.