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The history of tipping is a complex and controversial topic. According to some sources, tipping originated in feudal Europe, when aristocrats would give extra money to their servants for performing well.
However, tipping was not widely practiced in the United States until the 19th century, when wealthy Americans who traveled to Europe adopted the custom and brought it back to their country123.
Tipping becomes popular
Tipping became more popular in the United States after the Civil War, when employers in the hospitality sector, such as restaurants and railroads, exploited the newly freed Black workers by paying them little or no wages and forcing them to rely on tips from customers.
This practice was also a way to maintain racial hierarchy and discrimination, as tipping was seen as a demeaning and servile act.
Tipping was opposed by many Americans who saw it as un-American, classist, and undemocratic. There were even anti-tipping movements and laws that tried to ban or limit tipping in the early 20th century, but they failed to gain enough support and were eventually repealed.
Tipping was also influenced by the labor movements in Europe, which abolished tipping and established fair wages and benefits for workers.
Today
Today, tipping is still a controversial and debated issue in the United States, as it affects the income and working conditions of millions of service workers, especially in the restaurant industry.
Some argue that tipping is a way to reward good service and show appreciation, while others argue that tipping is unfair, unpredictable, and discriminatory, and that workers should be paid a living wage by their employers instead of depending on tips from customers.
There are also different norms and expectations for tipping in different situations and regions, which can cause confusion and frustration for both customers and workers.
If you want to learn more about the history and current issues of tipping in the United States, you can check out the following sources:
- How Americans Tip at Restaurants Has a Troubling History | Time
- Fact check: Tipping kept wages low for formerly enslaved Black workers
- The disturbing history of tipping in the U.S.: “It’s literally a slave …
- The Racist History of Tipping – POLITICO Magazine
- Tipflation: What It Is and How It Is Changing Tipping … – Investopedia