A History of European Women's Work : 1700 to the Present

A History of European Women's Work draws together recent research, lively personal accounts and statistical evidence to take an overview of trends in women's work from the pre-industrial period to the present. Deborah Simonton discusses the definition of work within and without patriarchal families, the status of work and the skills involved. She examines local as well as Europe-wide developments, contrasting countries such as Britain, Germany and France. She considers women's own perceptions of work and its place in their lives as well as age and class, to present a rounded account of the shifting patterns of employment and the continuities which are evident in the women's own experience. The paid and unpaid work of women in Europe has been and is hugely diverse - from schools to offices, factories to domestic service, dairies to hospitals and much more. The work patterns have fluctuated in relation to ideological, technological, demographic, economic and familial changes. In A History of European Women's Work, Deborah Simonton draws together recent research, lively personal accounts and statistical evidence to take an overview of trends in women's work from the pre-industrial period to the present. The author discusses the definition of work within and without patriarchal families, the status of work and the skills involved. The book examines local as well as Europe-wide developments, contrasting countries such as Britain, Germany and France. Age, class, and crucially control are defining themes of this panoramic work. Deborah Simonton considers women's own perceptions of work, and its place in their lives, to present a rounded account of the shifting patterns of employment and the continuities which are evident in women's own experience. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of illustrations......Page 11 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 The eighteenth century, c. 1700 90......Page 24 Women, household and farm......Page 26 Making, selling, serving......Page 50 Location, skill and status......Page 83 The nineteenth century, c. 1790 1880......Page 98 Domesticity, the invention of housework, and domestic service......Page 100 Rural women;farmhouse and agriculture......Page 125 Industry, commerce and public service......Page 146 Continuity and change: gender, skill and status......Page 175 The twentieth century, c. 1880 1980......Page 192 Home and work......Page 194 Continuities in country and town......Page 220 New work: white blouses in the tertiary sector......Page 246 Conclusion: gender, skill and status......Page 274 Notes......Page 284 Bibliography......Page 307 Index......Page 339 The work patterns of European women from 1700 onwards fluctuate in relation to ideological, demographic, economic and familial changes. In A History of European Women's Work, Deborah Simonton draws together recent research and methodological developments to take an overview of trends in women's work across Europe from the so-called pre-industrial period to the present.Taking the role of gender and class in defining women's labour as a central theme, Deborah Simonton compares and contrasts the pace of change between European countries, distinguishing between Europe-wide issues and local developments. The work patterns of European women from 1700 onwards fluctuate in relation to ideological, demographic, economic and familial changes. In A History of European Women's Work, Deborah Simonton draws together recent research and methodological developments to take an overview of trends in women's work across Europe from the so-called pre-industrial period to the present. Taking the role of gender and class in defining women's labour as a central theme, Deborah Simonton compares and contrasts the pace of change between European countries, distinguishing between Europe-wide issues and