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Women at Work Throughout European History

© Rachelle Hughes

Woman's economic contribution to her family and community throughout Europe's history has been substantial. While her social status was usually unequal to that of her husband's, her innate abilities were not. In the Middle Ages the "house wife" was often as much a manager as her husband, the peasant as much a field laborer as her father or husband, and the shopkeeper's wife as knowledgeable as her husband in commerce. During the Renaissance women were often as learned as their male counterparts and a few even practiced medicine. During the 1600s there was a short period of very educated women. While the 1700 and 1800s saw most middle-class and upper-class married women in their homes, many single women, especially those of the lower classes, continued to fill positions as servants and factory workers. This article will take a look at some of the jobs women did throughout the Middle Ages, Renaissance and the Pre-Industrial Period. I will deal with the impact the Industrial period had on female employment at a later time.

Middle Ages and Renaissance and Pre-Industrial: While attitudes toward women may have fluctuated during these ages, many of the jobs women held remained the same. Of course there was a move towards more education for women in the Renaissance and the 16th and 17th centuries, but there was also a strong move by the church and society towards the superiority of man and the husband.

PEASANTS: The peasant family was an economic unit. In order to survive everyone worked to their ability. Women often worked their master's land alongside their men. The pay was half of the men. If a peasant was not working in the field she often worked as a laundress, or servant in a home or business establishment. She was responsible for helping maintain any small plot of land owned by her family. There was very little rest for the peasant, much less the peasant woman. Every daylight hour was dedicated to the survival of her family and herself.

MERCHANTS, ARTISANS, GUILD MEMBERS: The innkeeper's wife undoubtedly worked side by side with her husband and children to maintain the family business. A merchant's wife often had her own business or helped manage her husband's trade. Some guilds and trades were actually female monopolies, like ale-making and spinning and some of the food and textile trades. Medieval mystic, Margery Kempe ran a brewery and mill while married to a rich merchant. Well-known medieval author Christine de Pizan wrote a treatise on a female's economic duties as the wife of an artisan as part of her treatise "The Treasure of the City of Ladies: or the Book of the Three Virtues.

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