The industrial revolution and economic opportunities for women in the 1830s - Essay Example

Insert The industrial revolution and economic opportunities for women in the 1830’s? The two essays on this issue try to answer whether the industrial revolution was of economic benefit to women in the 1830’s. This issue is important because gender matters are prioritized in the current world and hence it is prudent to highlight where society previously failed to avoid a repeat. On this, Nancy F. Cott argues that because of the industrial revolution, economic opportunities for “women opened up outside the home” (149) in the industry, journalism and to a limited extent in medicine, law, and business.

On the contrary, Gerda Lerner argues that much as more economic opportunities became available to women, they were alienated from the vital centers of economic opportunity. Lerner is the winning author as his perspective includes an evaluation of the impact of the jobs. Concerning what effects the revolution had on the lives of women, Lerner points out that professionalization “worked to the detriment of women” (152). She stated that when the need to train individuals in medicine arose, women were locked out of the recruitment process.

This happened with total disregard to the fact that prior to that some aspects of medicine as if women dominated the one midwifery. It was the case with law, business, and retail trade where the role of women diminished. Lerner further asserts that “the only reason women continued to thrive” (153) in two particular fields, nursing and education was actual because these areas were considered womanly and were in essence low paying. Aside from professionalization, Lerner argues that industrialization sharpened the divide in the lifestyle of women of different classes.

According to her, while the lower-class women essentially became ‘mill girls’ owing to their nature of work in factories, the middle and upper classes of women transformed to become ‘ladies’. This is because they invested their newfound free time in pursuing leisure. What comes out clearly from Lerner’s arguments is that the opportunities that arose from the industrial “revolution marginalized women” (155) and those that did not, were low-paying and long-hour jobs that did not present women with a better economic opportunity.

On the other hand, the supporting essay by Cott states that in “the 1830 is a primarily female labor force” (149) was recruited by new textile industries. According to Cott, this put money in the hands of women and the younger ones especially have to enjoy some degree of financial independence. Further, Cott highlights that a “greater number of women pursued primary school teaching,” (148) as it was the only profession open to them. Consequently, secondary school and academies where teachers were tutored increased resulting in improved literacy among women.

It is this improved literacy in women that Cott attributes the swelling numbers of female fiction writers and female journalists to. In addition, Cott argues that even with the professionalization of medicine, society was not ready to accept male midwives. As a result, midwifery remained as a preserve of women. In conclusion, Cott’s argument falls short as she fails to address the impact of the economic opportunities created. The industrial revolution indeed did create more jobs for women but these opportunities turned out to be of less economic significance as they were low paying and tiresome.

By highlighting the impact value of these jobs from an economic perspective, Lerner manages to come out as the persuasive of the two authors. Works Cited Cott, Nancy F. The Bonds of Womanhood. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1997. Print. Lerner, Gerda. The Lady and the Mill Girl. [Andover, Mass.]: [Warner Modular Publications], 1973. Print.