{"product_id":"women-work-and-sexual-politics-in-eighteenth-century-england","title":"Women, Work and Sexual Politics in Eighteenth-Century England","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Women, Work and Sexual Politics in Eighteenth-Century England the reviewer finds a focused reassessment of how women experienced work during a period of rapid change. This book is best for readers seeking a detailed social history that connects household labor, industrialization and the emerging sexual division of labour; the single biggest reason to buy is its careful documentation of household production and the often overlooked occupations women performed beyond conventional housework. Bridget Hill presents a measured, evidence-based narrative useful for historians and informed general readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHousehold focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Examines the household as the central unit of production, clarifying how economic change altered daily work patterns for women.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBroad occupational scope:\u003c\/strong\u003e Documents a wide range of tasks including domestic, agricultural and manufacturing roles that historians have often ignored.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSexual division of labour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Charts how increasing gendered separation of tasks developed and the long-term implications for women's economic position.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContextual analysis:\u003c\/strong\u003e Situates women's work within industrialization and technological change, helping readers connect local practices to broader economic trends.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUse of primary sources:\u003c\/strong\u003e Relies on contemporary records and evidence to reconstruct activities unrecorded in standard censuses or directories.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAccessible prose:\u003c\/strong\u003e Balances scholarly research with a readable narrative that suits both students and interested general readers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is well suited to students of social and gender history, researchers tracing the origins of labour patterns, and readers interested in British history of the 18th century. Its concentration on the household makes it a strong companion for coursework or reading groups focused on industrialization and gender.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThose looking for a broad economic history of industrial production or a biography-style account may want a different title, as Hill's emphasis remains on the household and the implications of the sexual division of labour rather than on factory case studies or individual life stories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThoroughly documents household production, giving a clearer picture of women's economic roles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHighlights occupations often absent from census records, expanding the historical record.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConnects social, technological and economic change to everyday labour in an accessible way.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFocused scope on the household means readers seeking a broad industrial narrative might find limited coverage of factory-centered developments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWomen, Work and Sexual Politics in Eighteenth-Century England\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBridget Hill\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubject\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWomen's and Gender History; 18th-century England\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGeographic focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngland, Great Britain\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMain themes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHousehold production, sexual division of labour, industrialization\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntended audience\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStudents, historians, general readers interested in social history\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBridget Hill's study is a persuasive and well-documented exploration of how the household and its female labour were transformed in the 18th century, making it a valuable purchase for anyone studying gendered labour histories. Its focused approach and use of underused records offer excellent value for readers who want a nuanced account of women's economic roles rather than a broad industrial history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book focus on factory work?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe emphasis is on household production, agriculture and small-scale manufacture rather than large factory case studies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the book suitable for undergraduate courses?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, it is accessible and well referenced, making it appropriate for undergraduate modules on social or gender history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the author use primary evidence?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, Hill draws on contemporary records to recover occupations and activities often omitted from census data.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bridget Hill","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48202401087707,"sku":"1857282132","price":41.59,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/61HG3duW_6L._SL1360.jpg?v=1770217139","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/women-work-and-sexual-politics-in-eighteenth-century-england","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}