ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the general characteristics of the Bermondsey wife who worked, and why she chose to do so. In Bermondsey, despite the fact that more married women than usual did work, they had often settled for much less than the full working day. On the other hand, they were prepared to work early or late or indeed at pretty well any time of day if this suited their domestic needs. The personal history of very many of the families met with in Bermondsey illustrated vividly the demographic and social changes which have led these families to consider the possibility of the mother going out to work. Bermondsey is one of the great centres of dock labour, and certain characteristics of dock work probably generate particular pressure on the Bermondsey wife to earn. The team was told, by those very familiar with Bermondsey, that most families were still living fully up to the week’s income, apart from any short-term savings.
