In addition, daily housework was heavy, physical work as well--much heavier than I'm used to doing. I'm 70 and when I look at what my grandmother had to do in order to wash clothes, clean rugs, prepare meals, and so on, I feel a bit guilty. How dare I feel annoyed at having to take the time to throw a load of clothes into the washer and push the button!
When I told my mother that I was behind in my laundry, she gave me a puzzled look. She asked “Don’t you just put it in a washer?” Talk about instant shame! My mom felt privileged that she had a wringer washer and a close line. You haven’t lived until you take frozen sheets off the line when it’s -20 or -30 in Canada. Housework was dam hard back then!
Please please get Ruth's videos in the classroom, I wish I was a historian but didn't know it was a job when I was at school in the 80's, her enthusiasm is infections. Love her way of getting it into our memory, lifting and shifting, pure educational gold
I love the way Ruth clarified how much HARD physical work women did, especially working class women. It interests me that the whole idea of women being unsuitable for undertaking hard physical work came about as women started to speak up for themselves. One has to wonder if the "delicate flowers" idea became popular since it became a way to control women.
I have a long line of blacksmiths in my ancestry, one of whom was running a particular smithy. He died quite young and his wife took over the running of it for a 2-3 years before remarrying and new husband taking that over. (As best as I can tell, I have no way of kniw what if any ongoing role she had). I feel she must have at least had an active interest in the business and enough knowledge to be an overseer, or the business would have collapsed, or someone would have taken advantage. I knew this wasn't unique, so I was very interested in this discussion.
In reference to Ruth noting people listed as an occupation where not actually working... I was mortified when opening a bank account for my newborn. I was told I had to be listed as unemployed or house duties. I was on paid maternity leave yet had to choose between those two options😤
What about the women who lived in the countryside? They worked extremely hard, at home, on the farm, in the field and nobody cared, I suppose. They also gave birth to many children, some of whom didn't even survive their infancy. My grandmothers' life was unbelievably difficult, nobody thought they were "delicate flowers", sadly.
Ruth Goodman, the historian interviewed for this video, became so well known over 20 years ago from living as part of a team for a full calendar year on a farm in the 1620's (Tales From the Green Valley, this was the earliest one, the others cropped up due to its roaring success), then the mid-1800's (Victorian Farm), then the early 1900's (Edwardian Farm), and again during WWII (Wartime Farm). Then they time traveled for yet another farm experiment to the Tudor era (Tudor Monastery Farm), AND a medieval castle ("Secrets of the Castle"). That's several distinct historical eras of the lives of women on a farm before modern conveniences became readily available. She's also participated as a subject matter expert in nearly every "let's put random civilians in the past for a few weeks" show on both British and American public television for 20 years. Ruth is almost singlehandedly to blame for my obsession with home economics and homestead and farm skills.
I love Ruth. One thing I would add about the shift from women to men in physical labor... there's a shift away from farming that's coming around the Industrial Age, so men are leaving farming and available for physical labor.
You hit the nail on the head! Movements to get women out of the commercial labor force tend to happen at points of significant shifts where the numbers and types of labor needed are about to potentially put a large number of men out of work. We’re also talking about what would be considered middle class. So the industrial revolution is happening and machines are replacing jobs so we don’t want women taking those jobs from men so we need a reason that women shouldn’t be doing that work. The World Wars are another example. Once the men came home we need women to stop working in the factories in such large numbers, blah blah blah.
Most miscarriages were not reported. They would not qualify for Census, Birth or Death records etc. I know that no one has records of my miscarriages, and I'm sure centuries ago it was much the same. An exception might be if the baby dies immediately before or during birth.
Was the drop off in participation to do with the series of Factory Acts from 1830 to 1860? These Acts banned women and children from working in factories and other industries. Someone had to look after the children who were roaming the streets and causing havoc. The term juvenile delinquent emerged. Men were flooding from rural communities to urban life. Women and children were forced out of work. The idea of traditional motherhood emerged and formal education. The rest is history… 😊
Ruth Goodman is a British national treasure!!😊
Simply adore Ruth! Gonna savor her every word!!
In addition, daily housework was heavy, physical work as well--much heavier than I'm used to doing. I'm 70 and when I look at what my grandmother had to do in order to wash clothes, clean rugs, prepare meals, and so on, I feel a bit guilty. How dare I feel annoyed at having to take the time to throw a load of clothes into the washer and push the button!
When I told my mother that I was behind in my laundry, she gave me a puzzled look. She asked “Don’t you just put it in a washer?” Talk about instant shame! My mom felt privileged that she had a wringer washer and a close line. You haven’t lived until you take frozen sheets off the line when it’s -20 or -30 in Canada. Housework was dam hard back then!
I can’t get enough of Ruth’s content. Keep us educated!!!
Please please get Ruth's videos in the classroom, I wish I was a historian but didn't know it was a job when I was at school in the 80's, her enthusiasm is infections. Love her way of getting it into our memory, lifting and shifting, pure educational gold
Truth. I absolutely love her. Informative but also enthusiastic. And like you said, contaigious.
We do use her videos in the classroom.
Ruth always makes history so interesting.. Love that woman !!
I love the way Ruth clarified how much HARD physical work women did, especially working class women. It interests me that the whole idea of women being unsuitable for undertaking hard physical work came about as women started to speak up for themselves. One has to wonder if the "delicate flowers" idea became popular since it became a way to control women.
I think the “delicate flowers” was a prison sentence for well-to-do women.
Of course it did! Thank you.
Ruth is one of my favorite people!
Ruth is a treasure! It’s so good to hear the history of the common people, the great majority of us, rather than just the kings and the wars
Ruth goodman❤
plss make series with ruth gosh shes my happy pill😂😂😂
I’m here for Ruth Goodman
Ok she’s 60 years old
Truly is a time stopper! She looks so great! We must protect her at all costs ❤❤❤❤❤❤
I have a long line of blacksmiths in my ancestry, one of whom was running a particular smithy. He died quite young and his wife took over the running of it for a 2-3 years before remarrying and new husband taking that over. (As best as I can tell, I have no way of kniw what if any ongoing role she had). I feel she must have at least had an active interest in the business and enough knowledge to be an overseer, or the business would have collapsed, or someone would have taken advantage. I knew this wasn't unique, so I was very interested in this discussion.
Ironbridge was the first school history trip I ever went on. 55 years ago.
In reference to Ruth noting people listed as an occupation where not actually working... I was mortified when opening a bank account for my newborn. I was told I had to be listed as unemployed or house duties. I was on paid maternity leave yet had to choose between those two options😤
That's ridiculous! What country do you live in?
@SalyLuz-hc6he Australia
@@SalyLuz-hc6he I believe my bank has me on file as a "homemaker", the U.S. version of "housewife".
What about the women who lived in the countryside? They worked extremely hard, at home, on the farm, in the field and nobody cared, I suppose. They also gave birth to many children, some of whom didn't even survive their infancy. My grandmothers' life was unbelievably difficult, nobody thought they were "delicate flowers", sadly.
Ruth Goodman, the historian interviewed for this video, became so well known over 20 years ago from living as part of a team for a full calendar year on a farm in the 1620's (Tales From the Green Valley, this was the earliest one, the others cropped up due to its roaring success), then the mid-1800's (Victorian Farm), then the early 1900's (Edwardian Farm), and again during WWII (Wartime Farm). Then they time traveled for yet another farm experiment to the Tudor era (Tudor Monastery Farm), AND a medieval castle ("Secrets of the Castle"). That's several distinct historical eras of the lives of women on a farm before modern conveniences became readily available. She's also participated as a subject matter expert in nearly every "let's put random civilians in the past for a few weeks" show on both British and American public television for 20 years. Ruth is almost singlehandedly to blame for my obsession with home economics and homestead and farm skills.
As a Canadian I can tell you when it came to any form, both my mother and grandmother would fill in housewife. Both worked.
Ruth is the only reason I watch Inside the Factory. If I can I just Fast forward to her history segments❤
I love Ruth. One thing I would add about the shift from women to men in physical labor... there's a shift away from farming that's coming around the Industrial Age, so men are leaving farming and available for physical labor.
You hit the nail on the head! Movements to get women out of the commercial labor force tend to happen at points of significant shifts where the numbers and types of labor needed are about to potentially put a large number of men out of work. We’re also talking about what would be considered middle class. So the industrial revolution is happening and machines are replacing jobs so we don’t want women taking those jobs from men so we need a reason that women shouldn’t be doing that work. The World Wars are another example. Once the men came home we need women to stop working in the factories in such large numbers, blah blah blah.
Oh I loved that show! Good job! I love that she's a woman that has helped tell about women from industry across time.
Were more miscarriages reported when women were doing this heavy work, or are there no sufficient records to be able to tell ??
That is an interesting question I'd love to know the answer 😮
Most miscarriages were not reported. They would not qualify for Census, Birth or Death records etc. I know that no one has records of my miscarriages, and I'm sure centuries ago it was much the same. An exception might be if the baby dies immediately before or during birth.
BBC,Living History series is the best History series ever put together!
She’s the First Lady of history everything she’s in is very interesting,If she’s in it I’ll be watching it
Love Ruth. I wish I knew she was here, I live in Ironbridge 😂
Excellent video. Wish I could afford a subscription - way out of my pay grade, sadly - but I enjoy what you share with us and wish you well.
thank you!
How I do enjoy Ruth so ❤
She is a detective! ❤
Was the drop off in participation to do with the series of Factory Acts from 1830 to 1860? These Acts banned women and children from working in factories and other industries. Someone had to look after the children who were roaming the streets and causing havoc. The term juvenile delinquent emerged. Men were flooding from rural communities to urban life. Women and children were forced out of work. The idea of traditional motherhood emerged and formal education. The rest is history… 😊
I just love Ruth Goodman. Her books are excellent! Personal goal - Meet her one day!
I love Ruth!
I love her shows
Ruth!!
Wasn’t there lead in that China paint?
Video says part 2 title says part 1, which is it?
I love the idea that women had some choice within factorywork. I assumed that everyone was stuck at the bottom rung
Haha packing fish fingers in birds eye.
It was thirteenth century
I love myself I was Ruth gudman
It would be amusing to put gongman as an occupation