Sweated Trades. Outwork in nineteenth century Britain
Details:
- Author(s) Bythell, Duncan
- Publication type Monograph
- Year published 1978
- Pages 287pp
- Publisher Batsford
- Place Published London
Topics:
- Name Production of goods & services - methods & organisation
- Name Worker / employee & work, women alone
- Name Workers / employee & work, women & men
- Name Worker / employee welfare inc working conditions, compensation, etc
Countries:
Library:
- Name British Library
- City London
- County Greater London
- Country England
- Postcode NW1 2DB
- Visit British Library's website
Groups:
Notes:
In an early study deals with outworkers as a disadvantaged social group but shedding some light on the industries in which they worked: wearing apparel; hats, especially straw hats; footwear; and nails/chains. 'Many aspects of their story are still unexplored, and even its broad significance is often misunderstood. Why did such workers survive so long into the nineteenth century? Why were they so poor? What did they try to do about their lot? Could society at large have done more to help them in their plight? Why did they eventually disappear when they did? These are among the problems which this book seeks to explore and for which it will try to suggest tentative answers'. Organised in three parts: A] 'Description of outwork' - 1] in textiles - woollen & worsted, linen & silk and cotton [pp25-64]; 2] in clothing - clothing trades, framework knitting and lacemaking; 3] in other industries - footwear, straw, nail & chain making and other industries; B] 'Analysis - 'Economics of outwork'; 'C] 'Narrative' - politics of outwork