Question

Using the domestic labor of the 1800s and 1900s in England, how did labor markets reallocate domestic servants to a wider range of industries over time?

Answer 1

Domestic labor condition in UK in 1800s:

The history of domestic labor in Great Britain indicates that women labor participation rate in industrial revolution era(1760-1830) was quite low in different sectors. The women participation in about 20 occupations such as public administraton, commercial services, mining, building and constructiion, armed forces and leather and furniture was almost negligible ranging from 0 to 8 ( thousands). Women labor were mostly employed in domestic services such as cooking, gardening, house cleaning, weaving and spinning works. There had been also drastic change in male and female worker's participation ratio in textile production with the innovation of new machineries. Earlier women used spinning wheels to spin fabric yarns but with installation of new machineries in the plants, traditional spinning work was replaced by handloom weaving. The women participation in weaving signficantly rose in textile industry after that. The other area where women had been largely employed during 18th century was farm services. Women workers were mainly employed in dairy service that was cheif source of earning for farms. As workers were paid fixed wages in farm services, many women quit the farm services due to low payment. Many farmers wives who were involved in different dairy works also preferred to sit back home after some time leaving the entire farm activities to male workers only. According to Census study of 18th century, it was also revealed that there was wide disparity in the wages of male and female workers in different sectors during industrial revolution period. There was also evidence of child labor engagement in textile production and other occupations.

Domestic labor condition in 19th century : The state of women workers in 19th Century considerably improved. There had been increasing participation of women in production sector especially in leather and textile industry. Most women in the 19th century used to work mainly to support their families. Many areas such as cleaning, washing, cooking, animal care etc. at the home were also responsibilities of the women. There has been no accurate records of paid and unpaid occupations for women in 19th century. However according to 1911 census report, it was revealed that women participation in domestic services continued to dominate in early 1900s and begining of 20th century. As the census report, around 28% of total female workforce was employed in domestic service such as handloom weaving, straw plaiting, cooking etc. Very few women were employed in large factories due to family reasons, There was wide wage differentials for both men and women working in different cities( Levonshire, Devonshire) of UK. Many married women left the job to take care of their childs and other family works. The male to female worker's participation ratio was 1/3 which means that nearly 1/3rd of women were employed in different occupations during mid-1900s. Male dominated occupations were mining, armed services, finance services, legal services and construction.