Key girls : the engineering industry and women's employment, 1900-50
Male workers were the 'mainstay' of the engineering industry. Women, however, formed an increasing share of its workforce in new and growing areas of production. Between 1900 and 1950, female employment in the industry's most prosperous trades of electrical engineering and motor vehicle manufacture increased fourfold. The present study examines the factors which determined how and why such growth occurred. In doing so, it challenges the singular importance given to male dominance - whether through gender ideology or through job exclusion - which pervades most historical explanations of women's work. This thesis deliberately highlights other influences on employers' use of labour. It demonstrates the complexity of female employment which was determined not only by ideology but also by market circumstances, the nature of engineering production, the need for flexibility in work organisation and a continuing reliance on skilled male workforces. This is most clearly shown in electrical engineering and motor vehicle manufacture between the wars. A study of demarcation disputes also questions the decisive role of ideology. These show that engineering employers responded to a number of influences in their decision
Wightman, Clare
Trade unions ; Skilled workers ; Male dominance
Key girls : the engineering industry and women's employment, 1900-50. Male workers were the 'mainstay' of the engineering industry. Women, however, formed an increasing share of its workforce in new and growing areas of production. Between 1900 and 1950, female employment in the industry's most prosperous trades of electrical engineering and motor vehicle manufacture increased fourfold. The present study examines the factors which determined how and why such growth occurred. In doing so, it challenges the singular importance given to male dominance - whether through gender ideology or through job exclusion - which pervades most historical explanations of women's work. This thesis deliberately highlights other influences on employers' use of labour. It demonstrates the complexity of female employment which was determined not only by ideology but also by market circumstances, the nature of engineering production, the need for flexibility in work organisation and a continuing reliance on skilled male workforces. This is most clearly shown in electrical engineering and motor vehicle manufacture between the wars. A study of demarcation disputes also questions the decisive role of ideology. These show that engineering employers responded to a number of influences in their decision
key girl engineering industry woman employment male worker mainstay engineering industry women however form increase share workforce new grow_area production female employment industry prosperous trade electrical engineering motor vehicle manufacture increase fourfold present_study examines factor_determine growth occur challenge singular importance give male dominance whether gender_ideology job exclusion historical_explanation woman_work deliberately highlight influence employer use labour demonstrates complexity female employment determine ideology also market circumstance nature engineering production need flexibility work organisation continue reliance skilled male workforce clearly_show electrical engineering motor vehicle manufacture war study demarcation dispute also question decisive role ideology show engineering employer respond number influence_decision