This thesis on the role of the rural working class woman, centred on the village of Broadway, Worcestershire and surrounding villages in the period 1890 - 1940, examines and develops the hypothesis that they played a key role in the social and economic functioning of their families. While they were conditioned and educated to provide a reservoir of cheap labour in a very limited variety of gender specific employments - domestic service, sewing, and some forms of field work, this study demonstrates that village women did not perceive themselves as powerless. Their housekeeping role included the power of the purse and in contrast to middle class women they, in addition to their men, were earners and providers. Their managerial role within the family and their pivotal role within the extended family provided the means by which their families could cope with low incomes and harsh living conditions. This thesis examines all aspects of rural women's lives from the formative influences of the home, church, class, and school, to work experience, and marriage. The family's income, including men's, women's and children's contributions is examined, together with its outgoings, including housing, food and clothing, the use and avoidance of debt, and family leisure. The extent of the role of women as providers and receivers of mutual aid within the extended family is researched. Finally, a comparison is made between this research into the role of rural working class woman and research into that of her urban counterpart.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:541230 |
| Date | January 1993 |
| Creators | Sidenius, Jean Hilary |
| Publisher | University of Warwick |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/36093/ |
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