Through rereading the excerpt, readers understand that the ILGWU largely comprised women, as indicated by the official's surprise at their endurance in the face of adversity.
A careful rereading of the excerpt from We Shall Not Be Moved would help a reader understand who made up the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) by highlighting the participation of women in the labor movement.
The quote from an ILGWU official reveals amazement at the resilience of the female workers, or 'these girls,' under harsh conditions, suggesting that the workforce consisted significantly of women.
This assertion is supported by historical accounts of women's prominent role in the 20th-century labor movements, particularly in the garment industry.