Abstract
The second half of the nineteenth century saw women begin to break free from the constraints of their domestic sphere of life. The range of activities it was acceptable for them to undertake gradually enlarged, and more women began to take paid jobs outside the home. Working-class women had, of course, always worked, whether inside or outside the home, and many middle-class women also had to do domestic work.1 The upper and upper-middle classes had their charitable work, which could be fitted in around the household routine.2 These domestic occupations were essentially for married women, although daughters were expected to do their share in the household before they left home on marriage. A society which perceived women only in so far as they were attached to men was therefore faced with a problem when the number of women exceeded men; in 1871, there were almost 600 000 more women than men aged 20 or older in England and Wales.3 Fathers were responsible for their daughters until marriage, but if marriage was postponed indefinitely, this could result in a strain on family finances.
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Notes and References
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Prochaska, F. K. (1980), Women and Philanthropy in Nineteenth-century England, OUP, London, p. 6.
The lancet, 30 March 1867, p. 401, quoted in Harrison, Brian (1981), ‘Women’s Health and the Women’s Movement in Britain: 1840–1940’, pp. 15–71 in Charles Webster (ed.), Biology, Medicine and Society 1840–1940. CUP, Cambridge. See p. 20.
Greg, W. R. (1862), ‘Why are Women Redundant’, National Review, April, as quoted in Rosen, Andrew (1974), Rise up, Women!, RKP, London, pp. 4–5.
Matthews, Jacquie (1983), ‘Barbara Bodichon: Integrity in Diversity’, pp. 90–123 in Dale Spender (ed.), Feminist Theorists, The Women’s Press, London. See p. 111.
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Feilding, Lady Mary (1887), ‘How Associated Dwellings may be Carried Out’, Work and Leisure, Nov, vol. 12, no. 11, pp. 287–9. See p. 289.
Twining, Louisa (1887), ‘A Castle in the Air’, Work and Leisure, Oct, vol. 12, no. 10, pp. 283–4; Twining writes that she has been advocating the advantages of associated homes for over 25 years, the obstacles being the independence and ‘insularity’ of English women, and the high cost of buildings and land in London. A. G. G. (1887), ‘Argument for Associated Dwellings for Gentlewomen’, Work and Leisure, Nov, vol. 12, no. 11, pp. 286–7; Feilding, Lady Mary (1887), Work and Leisure, ‘How Associated Dwellings may be Carried Out’, Nov, vol. 12, no. 11, pp. 287–9.
Holcombe, Lee (1983), Wives and Property, Martin Robertson, Oxford, p. 218.
Perks, Sydney (1905), Residential Flats of all Classes, Batsford, London, p. 158. The York Street Chambers still exist, the plaque giving their name and date of building clearly visible on the Wyndham Street side.
Hobhouse, Emily (1900), ‘Women Workers: How they Live, How they Wish to Live’, Nineteenth Century, March, vol. 47, no. 277, pp. 471–84. Hobhouse later exposed the use of concentration camps by the British in the Boer War.
See Pakenham, Thomas (1982), The Boer War, Futura, London, p. 503ff. For work with Women’s Industrial Council,
see Fisher, John (1971), That Miss Hobhouse, Secker and Warburg, London, p. 67;
Fry, A. Ruth (1929), Emily Hobhouse, Cape, London, p. 62.
Higgs, Mary and Hayward, Edward E. (1910), Where shall she Live?, P. S. King, London, pp. 180–1.
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© 1988 Lynn F. Pearson
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Pearson, L.F. (1988). Homes for Working Women. In: The Architectural and Social History of Cooperative Living. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-19122-2_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-19122-2_4
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