ABSTRACT
History viewed the labour market as being locked tight, with women relegated to casual labour and considered simply as “extra help.” The story of women’s work in the textile industry is long and repetitive. Women spin, sew and weave, while men cut and repair. The story of women’s work in the textile industry is long and repetitive. Women spin, sew and weave, while men cut and repair. All studies show that women gained a hold on new jobs in offices as well as factories. One might well wonder whether the word “feminisation” is semantically correct, since it suggests that women replaced men, taking their place so to speak, whereas in fact they seized upon new jobs. In purchasing and sales women worked in marketing as well as purchasing. Of course, they were also at every level of secretarial work and were the telephone operators.
