Women Assemble: Women Workers and the New Industries in Inter-War Britain

Women Assemble is a 1990 book that explores why working-class women became the primary labor force on assembly lines in the new consumer goods industries during the inter-war period. It develops a theory of women's class relations and gender and class more broadly through an original case study. The study is important to feminists, historians, sociologists, and anyone concerned with issues of gender, class, and the labor process.

Format: Hardback
Length: 326 pages
Publication date: 24 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Why did working-class women become the central labor force on assembly lines in the new consumer goods industries of the inter-war period? What was the long-term significance of this for the pattern of womens work, both in paid employment and in the home?

Originally published in 1990, Women Assemble fills a major gap in the history of women and work, and develops a theory of womens class relations, and of course gender and class more generally, by means of an original case-study. Taken from a wide variety of sources, it uses a multidisciplinary approach and is brought to life by interviews with people who worked in assembly-line industries during the inter-war period.

This extremely readable study is important to feminists, historians, and sociologists, as well as to all those concerned with issues of gender, class, and the labor process.

The emergence of working-class women as the central labor force on assembly lines in the new consumer goods industries of the inter-war period can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the growth of industrialization and the demand for mass-produced goods created a need for a large workforce, which women were increasingly able to fill. Secondly, the rise of the factory system and the shift from manual labor to assembly-line production made it possible for women to work in relatively stable and well-paying jobs.

The long-term significance of this for the pattern of womens work, both in paid employment and in the home, was profound. Firstly, it challenged traditional gender roles and stereotypes, as women were now able to participate in the workforce and contribute to the economic development of their families and communities. Secondly, it led to the development of new technologies and skills, as women were required to perform tasks that were previously reserved for men, such as assembly-line work.

This, in turn, had a positive impact on womens employment opportunities and wages, as they were able to negotiate better working conditions and earn higher salaries than their male counterparts. However, it also created new challenges and pressures, such as long hours, low pay, and limited job security.

Overall, the emergence of working-class women as the central labor force on assembly lines in the inter-war period was a significant milestone in the history of womens work. It paved the way for greater gender equality and opportunities for women in the workplace, and had a lasting impact on the pattern of womens work, both in paid employment and in the home.

Weight: 790g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032285436