THE FAMILY WAGE AND WORKING WOMEN'S CONSCIOUSNESS IN BRITAIN, 1880-1914

In: Politics & society, Band 19, Heft 1, S. 71-108

Abstract

THE ARGUMENT THAT MEN COULD ACHIEVE AN INCOME SUFFICIENT TO "MAINTAIN A FAMILY" BY PROHIBITING WOMEN'S AND ESPECIALLY WIVES' JOBHOLDING, KNOWN AS THE "FAMILY WAGE" DOCTRINE, UNDERPINNED BRITISH MALE TRADE UNIONISTS' POLITICAL INITIATIVES BETWEEN 1842 AND 1942. JANE HUMPHRIES AND JANE LEWIS HAVE ACCEPTED THIS PROPOSITION AT FACE VALUE, CONTENDING THAT THE LABOR MOVEMENT'S FAMILY WAGE STRATEGY BENEFITTED AND GAINED ADHERENCE FROM WOMEN WORKERS. THIS ARTICLE CHALLENGES THEIR VIEW FIRST BY DEMONSTRATING THAT THE FAMILY WAGE DOCTRINE'S SECTIONAL ORIGIN AND PURPOSE AND SECOND BY EXAMINING THE LANCASHIRE WOMEN COTTON WORKER'S REACTION TO IT.