In: Economics
Discuss men's and women's economic roles in the late feudalist and early capitalist/industrial periods. What kind of options did men have in terms of career and role as a breadwinner? What are some reasons/excuses given for preventing women's involvement in the labor market?
Both the feudalism and capitalism had been immensely benefitted by both the sections of the society that is men and women . Feudalism ended in the 15th century where people served under the kings and nobles for their land by gaining less returns for their work . During the early capitalist society people irrespective of gender had work for hours together .Bastards and slaves who were from Africa literally lived their life working for the development of industries under a few capitalists .But so much sexism could be observed here only men were allowed to become skilled workers and maintain guilds and women were deprived of social empowerment . On an average Every man had to work upto 16 hours a day to get his bread and butter . Acquiring private property , establishing new industries by a few made the whole society work under some people.when the crisis broke out between feudal lords and capitalists owing to technology and establishment of new industries the agricultural production was so less that so many time it couldn't supply to the needs of society hence capitalists entered into production by introducing free labourers for the increased agricultural produce .Racial segregation can also be seen during early capitalist society where sterilisation of workers and punishments given to them are high nevertheless they had to work under the lords.
Women's role :-the economic involvement of women was very high but no acknowledgement of their services had been there.in the early capitalist society most of the industries started at home as it was the production center then so women actively participated but they are often unpaid unlike men who were paid for their work .This deprived the amount of economic equality in the society.But capitalists say that economic emancipation of women had begun with capitalism as women got the opportunity to work and contribute to the state economy ,they say women were able manage the needs of consumption with their economic involvement. Women's production of several goods at home fetched more profits and they were categorised as collective wages .All these were some of the excuses by the then capitalists .But to be true to words women in the early capitalist society couldn't get the economic growth which they had to get .