ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an analysis of the branches of industry to which women in working classes have been admitted—pointing out shortly the leading circumstances affecting each occupation. Moreover, of women above the age of twenty engaged in independent industry, four-fifths are unmarried or widowed; that is, are in circumstances requiring them to earn their livelihood. In round numbers, of women above twenty years of age engaged in independent industry, one-fourth pursue commercial and agricultural undertakings, or are possessed of means of their own; one-fourth are engaged in the occupation of providing dress; one-fourth in domestic service; and one-fourth in manufacturing and agricultural labour. In the returns of 1841 the number of women professionally occupied in making women’s dress was less than the number of men professionally occupied in making men’s dress; there being from an eighth to a tenth more tailors than there were dressmakers and milliners.
