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“…The Most Free From Objection …†The Sexual Division of Labor and Women's Work in Nineteenth-Century England

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  • Humphries, Jane

Abstract

Most explanations of trends in women's work emphasize women's role in childbearing, along with technological and organizational changes in production. The explanations neglect an important factor: the need to control sexuality in order to secure demographic order. Segregated employment enabled almost all family members to work, while discouraging heterosexual intimacy. Nineteenth-century attitudes illustrate the anxiety felt when unrelated men and women worked together. The argument is tested by correlating regional variation in illegitimacy, as a measure of failed social control, with variation in sex segregation.

Suggested Citation

  • Humphries, Jane, 1987. "“…The Most Free From Objection …†The Sexual Division of Labor and Women's Work in Nineteenth-Century England," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 47(4), pages 929-949, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:47:y:1987:i:04:p:929-949_04
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    Cited by:

    1. Hazan, Moshe & D. Maoz, Yishay, 2002. "Women's labor force participation and the dynamics of tradition," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(2), pages 193-198, April.
    2. Casari, Marco & Lisciandra, Maurizio, 2015. "Gender Discrimination and Common Property Resources," IZA Discussion Papers 9601, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Conrad Miller & Jennifer Peck & Mehmet Seflek, 2019. "Integration Costs and Missing Women in Firms," NBER Working Papers 26271, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Maria Stanfors & Tim Leunig & Björn Eriksson & Tobias Karlsson, 2014. "Gender, productivity, and the nature of work and pay: evidence from the late nineteenth-century tobacco industry," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 67(1), pages 48-65, February.
    5. Casari, Marco & Lisciandra, Maurizio, 2014. "Gender Discrimination and Common Property Resources: a Model," MPRA Paper 57712, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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