WOMEN'S WORK IN THE EDWARDIAN ERA

An increasing awareness among women that there was a different way of doing things really arose among women of the lower middle classes who needed to work. Thousands of women were employed as teachers and this number continued to grow. The invention of the sewing machine gave women the opportunity to work from home, the invention of the bicycle gave then freedom.

Women could move about unchaperoned and get to work. The inventions of the telephone and typewriter opened up completely new work opportunities in offices and shops.

By 1901, 25% of all office workers were women. With money in their pockets and a new freedom on their bicycles, women changed the way they thought and dressed. The cumbersome skirts and crinolines that restricted movement were cast aside in favour of more unrestricted garments and even cycling trousers.

Women faced an uphill battle for any sort of recognition in the workplace. Their role was a subservient one, to serve the needs of the men who employed them. Few had managerial roles outside of their own businesses. Those that ran their own businesses were often very successful and had to be robust to operate in a "male driven workplace."

Legislation was created to keep certain jobs closed to women. There was no equal pay, women were often segregated from men at work and there was little chance for women to advance in the workplace.