Women in the regional economy : the East Midlands, 1700-1830
This study explores the processes of economic change and their impact on women's working lives in the East Midlands region during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Drawing on a wide range of sources, for example, estate, probate, criminal and poor law records, it offers alternative perspectives on the position of women in the economy. The first part of the thesis looks at the wealth creating and income generating activities of 'middling' women living in urban areas. Inheritance strategies delineated in men's and women's wills do not indicate that women from the beginning of the eighteenth century became less able to hold property or engage in enterprise. Industrial development in this region encouraged women's economic participation and created additional opportunities for those situated in industrial towns to extend their interests. The value of estate records for the investigation of women's businesses is also discussed, and it is concluded that while they have their limitations, these records can provide valuable insights into women's commercial dealings. Part two is concerned with the effects of regional specialisation on the work of labouring women. There is very little evidence to suggest
Lane, Penelope
HC Economic History and Conditions ; HD Industries. Land use. Labor ; HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
Women in the regional economy : the East Midlands, 1700-1830. This study explores the processes of economic change and their impact on women's working lives in the East Midlands region during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Drawing on a wide range of sources, for example, estate, probate, criminal and poor law records, it offers alternative perspectives on the position of women in the economy. The first part of the thesis looks at the wealth creating and income generating activities of 'middling' women living in urban areas. Inheritance strategies delineated in men's and women's wills do not indicate that women from the beginning of the eighteenth century became less able to hold property or engage in enterprise. Industrial development in this region encouraged women's economic participation and created additional opportunities for those situated in industrial towns to extend their interests. The value of estate records for the investigation of women's businesses is also discussed, and it is concluded that while they have their limitations, these records can provide valuable insights into women's commercial dealings. Part two is concerned with the effects of regional specialisation on the work of labouring women. There is very little evidence to suggest
women regional_economy east_midlands study_explore process economic_change impact woman_work life east_midlands region drawing wide_range_source example estate probate criminal poor_law record offer_alternative perspective position_woman economy first_part look wealth create income generating activity middling woman_live urban_area inheritance strategy delineate men_woman will indicate woman begin become less able hold property engage enterprise industrial development region encourage woman economic participation create additional opportunity situate industrial_town extend interest value estate record investigation woman business also_discuss conclude limitation record provide_valuable insight woman commercial dealing part_two concerned effect regional specialisation work labour woman little_evidence suggest