ABSTRACT
Sociologists routinely undertake historical comparisons as part of their effort to understand contemporary society. When analysing women’s experiences of paid work, however, this has often proved difficult. Due to the longstanding subordination of women to men, and the interests and values of historians themselves, women have been ‘hidden from history’. This means that women’s involvement in the production and distribution of food, goods and services has been much less visible than men’s. With this point in mind, I begin this chapter with a brief overview of the historical contexts which have shaped women’s involvement in paid work. The main part of the chapter identifies the key features of women’s paid work experiences in contemporary British society. I also look at explanations for change, and continuity, in women’s experiences of paid work compared to men’s.
