The Industrial Revolution and Its Impact on Family Life and Women

     Many of people today feel trapped inside their homes, just how the women of Pre-Industrial Europe felt. Working day in and day out inside the homes, just to keep the family together, and make a little money on the side, these women were an integral part of Pre-Industrial families. Not only were the women important to Pre-Industrial European families, but so were the households. Much of the money was made in the households, and this is where families either succeeded or failed. The household and women of Pre-Industrial Europe played an integral role in the economy of the families, and more importantly, the women of these households kept them running

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the industrial revolution was at its way, gaining many economic and technological advances but the price of hardship forced onto the workers and children during this time was paid. During this time period rural societies transformed into urban/industrial ones and a shift from working at home to factories and mass production with machinery. Many different advancements including the iron and textile industries, and also the invention of the steam engine helped pave the way of the revolution. Industrialization brought an increase of manufactured goods and also helped pave the way to our world as we know it today. As all these things were great, the industrialization significantly and truly lowered the living conditions

The industrial revolution swept through Europe and North America during the 19th century, affecting the class structure, economy, government, and even the religious practices of everyone who lived in or did commerce with these new "industrialized nations." It made the modern age possible, but it was not without its "growing pains." The position of women before the industrial revolution was often equivalent to chattel, and then as now, they were expected to take naturally to housework and child rearing. The history of working women in the Industrial Revolution is rife with accounts of abuse and tragedy, but overall it improved their position in capitalist societies. Below, I will explain the

Mortality rates were decreasing rapidly. This was not only an effect of the poor living conditions, but also of the high pollution that was being created by the factories. Without the proper piping that is needed, the streets which were already filled with trash, also became smoggy and polluted. Women and child labor were very common in the industrial revolution with employees working from twelve to sixteen hours a day and being paid scarcely enough to get by.

To explain, in both the pre-industrial and urban industrial periods men were pushed into and dominant in public life, whereas women were pushed into and expected to be in the private sphere, commonly the household. In both periods, the gender roles of men expected them to be the “money-earners” as well as the heads and decision-makers of families. On the other hand, gender roles of women expected them to stay home to raise and nurture children as well as do the household work as the domestic servants of the families. Though there were comparisons between both historical periods, there was a significant difference for women in the urban industrial period as some women, specifically widows began to work, though their gender roles reckoned them to be in the private sphere. Additionally, in the urban industrial period when the men went off to war, women replaced their roles and would also work in the public sphere to provide financial support to their families. Not to mention, there were contrasts between both historical periods when viewing family size and form. In pre-industrial times, monogamous marriages and living with extended families were the norm as religion viewed marriage as sacred and private, as well as assistance was required in establishing cottage industries

This allowed women to take care of the home while the father and kids tended to the farm. This conceded for the corrosion and disappearance of the immediate family, as they were unable to afford large families due to the cost of living in the city. Also it is important to note that since there was an immediate need for monetary income and everyone in the family was working in the factories that the work life balance diminished. In the agricultural society, there was time for work and play and families were afforded the time available to bond with each other. The quality of life in a more ethical viewpoint in my opinion was better in the agricultural society simply because I feel that the families had a chance to become closer, being that they were together all day and the end goal was for the betterment of the family. Also the industrialization caused the emergence of the “Middle Class” prior to this there were only two social classes: “The Haves & The

In my thesis, I contend that the Industrial Revolution impacted women because women in the working and poor classes were a key labor force in mills and factories, they supported their role as the backbone of the household economy by completing housework in the middle class, and finally the Industrial Revolution made an impact on the contributions of ideas made by women.

Industrialism has changed the ways families of that particular time interacted and supported one another. With the rapid shift away from more localized agrarian or small business enterprises to one that required longer hours away from home, the impact on the early American family cannot be underestimated. Before the onset of the Industrial Revolution in early America, a household was a social center where its members drew satisfaction from working together.

Throughout the nineteenth century, the role of women began to change. Slowly the role of women went from strict domestic work, to having their own say in their own reform groups. After the American Revolution, women began to have a say in what went on during their everyday lives or the lives of their children and husbands. A woman having her own say was something new for men to have to deal with, but they were willing to listen. Women do not get the right to vote nationally until the 1920s, but the start of their suffrage and political movement begins in the nineteenth century with the changing times of the Industrial Revolution and life after the American Revolution.

During the Industrial Revolution, an exponential amount of working-class and middle-class Americans moved to the cities, seeking to better their lives and to break away from the American tradition of farming. Family dynamics also changed due to the Industrial Revolution, making the need for a large family obsolete. Children were no longer helpers on the farm, making them more of a liability than an asset. In turn, the number of children in middle-class families reduced significantly, giving more educated women time to accomplish other gratifying goals. Many American women spent their time shopping and mingling with their neighbors, some would work, others would support their church, but few would advance themselves in scholarly education or embrace a political role. Even with the ability to work, many middle-class women continued living with the mentality of staying at home. With the poor wages paid to working women, it was not worth the effort for most. Many advice books, women’s magazines, novels, and religious periodicals inspired middle-class mothers and married women to focus on raising upright and moral children, and to produce a haven for their working husband, changing their role to be a more domesticated one. This kept most middle-class women constrained to their homes and away from political affairs even though they were still expected to participate in social gatherings with other wives of businessmen to reinforce their social and economic bonds (Hewitt 331). It

The Industrial Revolution started in great britain, the reason why it started there and not anywhere else was because Great Britain had the resources, such as iron and coal. The agriculture in Britain had been growing since the 18 century. The change in agriculture stability made the Britain population grow. The Industrial revolution was a great turning point in history. It changed the way many people lived. From working in the fields of the farms to working in big factories. The enclosure movement was a reason why families had to move away from their farms because the market changed and they did not need that many people working on the farms. Many families moved to the city and found work in

The Industrial Revolution changed the ways by how the world produced its goods. It was the era when the use of power-driven machines was developed. It also changed our societies from a mainly agricultural society to one in which industry and manufacturing was in control. This had many effects on people’s lives.

During Britain’s Industrial Revolution, a multitude of different jobs were opened to the working class of men, women, and children. While this era offered a wide variety of new opportunities for everyone, women were somewhat excluded in areas such as occupation availability and wage due to the cultural norms of the time period.

Think about your life for one second: you communicate with people, travel, make purchases, and utilize those commodities. But have you ever wondered what made those things possible? After all, you go to the store to buy things you need. You drive a car to work and to visit your friends. If you need to talk to someone, you simply pick up your phone or computer. However, none of this would be possible without a means of communication, factories to manufacture the products you need, places to work, and ways to travel and transport goods. And what made these possible? The answer is the Industrial Revolution, which started in Europe around the year 1730. A revolution is a major change or turning point in something. The Industrial Revolution

Before the Industrial Revolution, there were many hard times for families. All of this changed when the Industrial Revolution happened. Women