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Diffusion of a social norm: tracing the emergence of the housewife in the Netherlands, 1812–19221

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  • FRANS W. A. VAN POPPEL
  • HENDRIK P. VAN DALEN
  • EVELIEN WALHOUT

Abstract

The emergence of the housewife in the Netherlands over the period 1812–1922 was strongly influenced by the social norm that women should withdraw from the labour market on the eve of marriage. Adherence to this norm is most clearly reflected in the emergence of the housewife among the lower classes, especially at the close of the nineteenth century among wives of farmers. Women in urban municipalities, however, set the norm far earlier and differences across social classes were significantly greater in towns than in rural areas. Paradoxically, the rise of the housewife did not change work pressures for lower‐class women.

Suggested Citation

  • Frans W. A. Van Poppel & Hendrik P. Van Dalen & Evelien Walhout, 2009. "Diffusion of a social norm: tracing the emergence of the housewife in the Netherlands, 1812–19221," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 62(1), pages 99-127, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ehsrev:v:62:y:2009:i:1:p:99-127
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0289.2008.00433.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Youssouf Merouani & Faustine Perrin, 2022. "Gender and the long-run development process. A survey of the literature [Rethinking age heaping: A cautionary tale from nineteenth-century Italy]," European Review of Economic History, European Historical Economics Society, vol. 26(4), pages 612-641.
    2. Quanjer, Björn & Kok, Jan, 2019. "Homemakers and heights. Intra-household resource allocation and male stature in the Netherlands, 1860–1930," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 194-207.
    3. Wiebke Schulz & Ineke Maas, 2010. "Studying historical occupational careers with multilevel growth models," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 23(24), pages 669-696.
    4. Giuliana Freschi & Marco Martinez, 2023. "Intergenerational mobility in 19th-century Italy: A case study approach," LEM Papers Series 2023/27, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.

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