working life of women seventeenth century - School of Economics ...

INTRODUCTORYEffect of environment on Women's development. Possiblc reaction on men's deveiopment-Importanceof seventeenth century in historic development of Englishwomen-Influence of economic position-Division of Women's productivepowers Into Domestic, Industrial, and Profesaiond-Three systems of IndustrialOrganisation-Domestic Industry-Family Industry-Capitalistic Induatryor 1ndustrialisn1-Definition of these terms-Historic sequence. Effect ofIndustrial Revolution on Women-in capitalistic class-in agr;culture-intextile industries-in crafts and other trades. Transference of productiveindustry from married women to unmarried women-with consequent increaseof economic independence for the latter and its loss for theformer. Similarevolution in professions shows this was not due wholly to effect of capitalism.HITHERTO the historian has paid little attention tothe circumstances of women's lives, for women havebeen regarded as a static factor in social developments,a factor which, remaining itself essentially the same,might be expected to exercise a constant andunvarying influence on Society.This assumption has however no basis in fact, forthe most superficial consideration will show howprofoundly women can be changed by their environment.Not only do the women of the same raceexhibit great differences from time to time in regardto the complex social instincts and virtues, but eventheir more elemental sexual and maternal instinctsare subject to modification. While in extreme casesthe sexual impulses are liable to perversion, it sometimeshappens that the maternal instinct disappearsaltogether, and women neglect or, like a tigress incaptivity, may even destroy their young.These variations deserve the most careful examination,for, owing to the indissoluble bond unitingthe sexes, and the emotional power which womenexert over men, the character of men's development