19th century women vs 21st century women

During the 19th century the Industrial Revolution transformed life in Britain and in other countries in Europe and North America. By the end of the century life was becoming more and more comfortable for most women.

In the 19th century at least 80% of the population was working class. In order to be considered middle class you had to have at least one servant. Throughout the century 'service' was a major employer of women.

For working class women life was an endless round of hard work and drudgery. As soon as they were old enough they worked on farms and in factories. Even when they married and had children housework was very hard without electricity or modern cleaning agents.

Some reforms were made in the 19th century. In 1842 a law banned women and boys under 10 from working underground. In 1844 a law banned all children under 8 from working. Then in 1847 a Factory Act said that women and children could only work 10 hours a day in textile factories. In 1867 the law was extended to all factories. (A factory was defined as a place where more than 50 people were employed in a manufacturing process). An act of 1878 said women in any factories could not work more than 56 hours a week.

Furthermore in the 19th century most working class girls got some education. In the early and mid 19th century the churches provided some schools. After 1870 the state provided them.

The Family in the 19th Century

Divorce was made legal in Britain in 1857 but it was very rare in the 19th century.

In the 19th century wealthy women were kept busy running the household and organizing the servants. Well to do women often also did charitable work.

In 1874 the first successful typewriter went on sale (It was invented in the USA by Christopher Sholes) and the telephone was invented in 1876. These two new inventions meant more job opportunities for women. At the end of the 19th century new inventions like the typewriter and the telephone created more jobs for women.

Life became more comfortable for most women in the 19th century. James Simpson (1811-1870), who was Professor of Midwifery at Edinburgh University, began using chloroform for operations in 1847.

Meanwhile in the 19th century men and women practiced archery. In the late 19th century tennis, croquet and cycling were popular pastimes. Women first played at Wimbledon in 1884. Some intrepid women went mountaineering.