Study overturns simplistic view of how men and women divided work in early modern Europe
Historians comparing detailed work records from Sweden and England have found that gender roles in agriculture, crafts, and trade were far more flexible and variable than previously assumed. The finding challenges broad generalizations about labor division and suggests that historical economic patterns resulted from complex, localized adaptations rather than uniform cultural norms.
Originaltitel: Comparing the gender division of labour in early modern Sweden and England
<p>Historians have agreed that the gender division of labour in rural households was broadly similar across the whole of northern and western Europe during the early modern period. Until recently, however, there has been a lack of detailed data about the historical division of labour within European countries with which to test the validity of such cross-cultural generalizations. New research that has collected evidence of work tasks for early modern Sweden and England now makes it possible to undertake a direct comparison of two European countries. In this article, the gender division of labour in agriculture, craft production and commerce in Sweden and England is compared to demonstrate the complexity of historical gender divisions of labour. It presents a detailed picture of the gender division of labour that not only shows differences between the two countries but also demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in the allocation of work between women and men. As a consequence, we argue that neither broad generalizations nor single causes are adequate explanations for the patterns observed.</p>