Fashion Fiasco Strikes England: An In Depth Look at The Industrial Revolution's Impact on Rural Women's Fashion
Disciplines
European History | History of Gender | Labor History | Women's History
Abstract (300 words maximum)
My central question is; why did rural women's fashion change between 1760 and 1840 from simple pieces meant to be sturdy and cheap for agricultural and housework to complex pieces that reflected the changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution? A thorough investigation of primary and secondary sources has guided my research on the shifting paradigm brought about by the Industrial Revolution, such as increased female presence in factory settings and a move away from the traditional roles of women within a home. This change is measured by shifts in popular clothing styles, the types of fabric used, and the patterns used on fabric within rural communities. To fit within a changing society, women’s fashion adapted to the change in an industrial setting to be more practical for factory work. Another shift in women’s fashion comes from an economic standpoint, with women in the workforce the economy shifted to accommodate this change. In the factories where rural women would work, they were exploited as a cheap and expendable labor source. Many women thought the additional income from the job would bolster their families’ economic standing, unfortunately, this did not occur. Before the Industrial Revolution, many rural women took care of gardens as part of their duties to provide for their families. Once women began working in factories, their gardens became neglected as the new economic advantage of a factory job was intended to boost their household finances to allow for the purchase of food and other necessary items. The wages women received from factory jobs did little to negate the cost of food to feed their families and ended up causing their economic standing to fall. This economic shift for households is seen in the types of fabrics and the amount used to create clothing for rural women.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - History & Philosophy
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Amy Dunagin
Fashion Fiasco Strikes England: An In Depth Look at The Industrial Revolution's Impact on Rural Women's Fashion
My central question is; why did rural women's fashion change between 1760 and 1840 from simple pieces meant to be sturdy and cheap for agricultural and housework to complex pieces that reflected the changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution? A thorough investigation of primary and secondary sources has guided my research on the shifting paradigm brought about by the Industrial Revolution, such as increased female presence in factory settings and a move away from the traditional roles of women within a home. This change is measured by shifts in popular clothing styles, the types of fabric used, and the patterns used on fabric within rural communities. To fit within a changing society, women’s fashion adapted to the change in an industrial setting to be more practical for factory work. Another shift in women’s fashion comes from an economic standpoint, with women in the workforce the economy shifted to accommodate this change. In the factories where rural women would work, they were exploited as a cheap and expendable labor source. Many women thought the additional income from the job would bolster their families’ economic standing, unfortunately, this did not occur. Before the Industrial Revolution, many rural women took care of gardens as part of their duties to provide for their families. Once women began working in factories, their gardens became neglected as the new economic advantage of a factory job was intended to boost their household finances to allow for the purchase of food and other necessary items. The wages women received from factory jobs did little to negate the cost of food to feed their families and ended up causing their economic standing to fall. This economic shift for households is seen in the types of fabrics and the amount used to create clothing for rural women.