Women's occupations since the Renaissance

{See also Victorian women in business}

{See also Victorian women in employment}

{See also Female sailors and soldiers}

{See also Railwaywomen}

{See also Employment}

{See also Society for the Employment of Women}

Despite the popular myths, women have worked for monetary reward since money was invented. Considering that working class girls were taught household skills at their mothers' knee yet excluded from higher education and all professions, it is hardly surprising that most of them ended up working in occupations that reflected this: as domestic servants and laundresses.

But this is far from the whole story. Women have also been engaged in manufacture since time immemorial, and some girls were apprentices in certain, restricted clothing trades such as millinery.

There is a long history of women taking over their husband's trades, in retailing, as the landlords of inns, and even as blacksmiths and saddlers read more...

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All pages © Helena Wojtczak 2009. Corrections and additions are warmly welcomed. Email me