We’ve moved on a long way from the Caves! Women traditionally stayed at home, ran a family, while the male was “Hunter Gatherer”. Today the workplace is open to all! Everyone can benefit from a career and a regular wage paid out by their friendly payroll company!
In the UK, back in the 1800’s, girls were barred from taking up an education. Boys were nurtured toward Apprenticeships and careers. Women could only take up lowly, badly paid jobs such as sewing, cooking, serving and midwifery. They were raised to marry and provide children. There was little or no divorce and if women were unhappy with their lot, they had to put up with it. Men held the purse strings. If a woman did rebel, her husband (or brother) could by law administer “moderate correction” for their disobedience.In the Victorian era though, far from today’s Payroll Company led industries, women did begin to support their families with wage paying jobs. These jobs were usually in addition to their heavy home workloads. However, it was these jobs that were to contribute to the future independence of women in the private and public sectors.
Women began to work in Factories – hat making or painting pottery. They also helped in family-run businesses, and became launderers, shop keepers and cleaners. However in the mid 19th century although supervisory jobs were monopolised by men, there was evidence that women were being allowed more freedom to spend their incomes in the way they felt fit. The worm had turned.