Men, women, shops and 'little, shiny homes' : the consuming of Coventry, 1930-1939
In the 1930s many people leaving the United Kingdom's depressed areas in search of work were drawn to Coventry. Companies involved in the manufacture of motor cars, electrical goods, artificial silk and machine tools were typical of those located in the city. Most incomers found work: unemployment remained at a low level whilst the city's population exploded. The city boundaries were extended, and Coventry was rapidly suburbanised in response to the heightened demand for accommodation. Private developers noted with surprise how few of the new houses were built to let. The 1936 edition of Home Market placed Coventry first on its national index of purchasing power. From the middle of the decade, the city was closely associated with rearmament and four shadow factories provided further employment opportunities. This research addresses changes in the processes and practices of (primarily non-food) shopping amongst prosperous working-class Coventry people in the 1930s. It assesses the development of new spending patterns In relation to new products and services, and examines the role played by gender in determining the who, what, when, where and why of shopping. The thesis asks how these men and women negotiated
Whitworth, Lesley
DA Great Britain ; HC Economic History and Conditions ; HM Sociology
Men, women, shops and 'little, shiny homes' : the consuming of Coventry, 1930-1939. In the 1930s many people leaving the United Kingdom's depressed areas in search of work were drawn to Coventry. Companies involved in the manufacture of motor cars, electrical goods, artificial silk and machine tools were typical of those located in the city. Most incomers found work: unemployment remained at a low level whilst the city's population exploded. The city boundaries were extended, and Coventry was rapidly suburbanised in response to the heightened demand for accommodation. Private developers noted with surprise how few of the new houses were built to let. The 1936 edition of Home Market placed Coventry first on its national index of purchasing power. From the middle of the decade, the city was closely associated with rearmament and four shadow factories provided further employment opportunities. This research addresses changes in the processes and practices of (primarily non-food) shopping amongst prosperous working-class Coventry people in the 1930s. It assesses the development of new spending patterns In relation to new products and services, and examines the role played by gender in determining the who, what, when, where and why of shopping. The thesis asks how these men and women negotiated
men_woman shop little home consuming coventry many_people leave united_kingdom area search work drawn coventry companies involve manufacture motor car electrical good artificial silk machine tool typical locate city find work unemployment remain low_level whilst city population city boundary extend coventry rapidly response heighten demand accommodation private developer note surprise new house build let edition home market place coventry first national index purchase power city closely_associate shadow factory provide employment opportunity address change process practice primarily non food amongst prosperous working_class coventry people ass development new spending pattern relation new product service examines_role play gender determining asks men_woman negotiate