1. Women and work after 1865: change and continuity

Question 1

after 1865 a considerable increase in number of women in labour market
1840
1870
1924

Answer 1

1840 = 10% of free women held jobs 
1870 = 15%
1925 = 24%

Question 2

after 1865 biggest increase in number of women in labour market was in

Answer 2

white-collar work and the professions

Question 3

in areas where there were textile factories

Answer 3

the proportion of working women was higher r than the national average

Question 4

in the south AA women forced to contribute heavily to agricultural work because

Answer 4

problem of making smallholdings pay was so great

Question 5

biggest change?

Answer 5

greater experience of paid work amongst single and married women

Question 6

as US economy grew and child labour declined there was more demand for

Answer 6

women workers

Question 7

change in the range of female employment -
domestic servants vs. white collar occupation
1865
1920

Answer 7

1865 = 60% domestic servants. 1% white collar occupations
1920 = 18% domestic servants. 40% white collar occupations
(however didn’t apply to AA women)

Question 8

within professional employment what predominated?

Answer 8

teaching and nursing, followed by charity and welfare.
(stereotype that women’s work was linked to their domestic caring concerns predominated despite economic growth widening the workforce )

Question 9

large number of women workers = growth in union organisation
in proportion in 1914 what % of women were trade unionists (even though 25% of female employment was in factories)

Answer 9

only 2%

Question 10

summary

Answer 10

mixture of change and continuity
change = scale of women working and nature of employment. more independence
continuity = most work in traditional areas associated with women in caring professions. little change in attitude that home was women’s major responsibility