A history of women workers in English libraries, 1871-1974
This thesis proposes that library work, like other occupations, is a cultural practice: that is, it is an activity pursued within contemporary social conventions and power relations. It also proposes that a useful way of exploring the women-dominated cultural practice of library work is through a consideration of gender and of further interconnecting factors. There are two aims: to outline the positioning of women workers in English libraries between 1871-1974; and, to consider the impacts of that positioning on men and women workers in the sector. The theoretical framework is indebted to work by feminist, library and poststructuralist historians and labour market theorists. These theoretical approaches have been used as a resource to inform an historical account of a labour market sector. This thesis demonstrates the extent of women's participation in English libraries between 1871-1974 and explores attempts to constrain that participation. It identifies when those constraints were challenged or complied with and the function of that constraint or compliance. The impact of such developments on men workers in the sector is also discussed. Understandings of femininity and masculinity are critical in an exploration
Kerslake, Evelyn
Library ; Feminism
A history of women workers in English libraries, 1871-1974. This thesis proposes that library work, like other occupations, is a cultural practice: that is, it is an activity pursued within contemporary social conventions and power relations. It also proposes that a useful way of exploring the women-dominated cultural practice of library work is through a consideration of gender and of further interconnecting factors. There are two aims: to outline the positioning of women workers in English libraries between 1871-1974; and, to consider the impacts of that positioning on men and women workers in the sector. The theoretical framework is indebted to work by feminist, library and poststructuralist historians and labour market theorists. These theoretical approaches have been used as a resource to inform an historical account of a labour market sector. This thesis demonstrates the extent of women's participation in English libraries between 1871-1974 and explores attempts to constrain that participation. It identifies when those constraints were challenged or complied with and the function of that constraint or compliance. The impact of such developments on men workers in the sector is also discussed. Understandings of femininity and masculinity are critical in an exploration
history woman worker english library proposes library work like occupation cultural_practice activity pursue within_contemporary social_convention power_relation also_propose useful way explore women dominated cultural_practice library work consideration gender interconnect factor two_aim outline position_woman worker english library consider impact position men_woman worker sector theoretical_framework indebted work feminist library historian labour_market theorist theoretical_approach use resource inform historical_account labour_market sector demonstrates extent woman participation english library explores attempt constrain participation identifies constraint challenge function constraint compliance impact development men worker sector also_discuss understandings femininity masculinity critical exploration