Women and Work in Preindustrial Europe

by Barbara A. Hanawalt, Kathryn L. Reyerson (Contributor)

Topics addressed Peasant women's contribution to the home Women and brewing Urban domestic slavery Women domestic servants in Florence during the 14th and 15th centuries Municipal wet-nurses in 15th century Montpellier Early modern midwifery Women in business in medieval Montpellier Women's work in a market town; late 14th century Exeter Women in the crafts in 16th century Lyon Women, family economy, structures of market production in Northern European cities

Genres: History, Nonfiction

233 pages

First published June 1, 1986

About the author

A specialist in medieval English social history, Barbara Hanawalt is Emeritus Professor of History at Ohio State University. . She received her PhD from University of Michigan in 1970, and taught at Indiana University and the University of Minnesota before moving to Ohio State University in 1999. She has served as President of the Medieval Academy of America and President of the Social Science History Association.

Reviews

[Peter Goggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roughly speaking, the first half of the book describes the domestic work life of women in the Middle Ages, largely centered in rural or village home life. The shocking aspect of this part is the mortality rates of women working on chores we take for granted - baking bread, doing laundry, fetching water were incredibly deadly tasks by today’s standards.

The latter half of the book examines the status of women in business and their ability to enter the trades, this taking place more so in towns and cities. Convincingly argues a point of women generally occupying ephemeral and fringe positions as a result of their expectations to handle children.