Very interesting Steph! The regression of the term spinster, a once revered occupation for women that gave them status and attracted partners that became a term for single women sounds like a deliberate campaign by (male) industrialists to deter women (aka their competitors) from taking up the skill. As usual another thought provoking newsletter!
Thank you, Marianne! Jack Zipes' article was very interesting to read. While he doesn't explicitly describe these changes in spinning as a direct campaign by factory owners to take spinning away from women, he does definitely link the industrialization of spinning to the demise of the independent, woman spinner. I feel like a lot of cottage industries were diminished by the Industrial Age.
Very interesting Steph! The regression of the term spinster, a once revered occupation for women that gave them status and attracted partners that became a term for single women sounds like a deliberate campaign by (male) industrialists to deter women (aka their competitors) from taking up the skill. As usual another thought provoking newsletter!
Thank you, Marianne! Jack Zipes' article was very interesting to read. While he doesn't explicitly describe these changes in spinning as a direct campaign by factory owners to take spinning away from women, he does definitely link the industrialization of spinning to the demise of the independent, woman spinner. I feel like a lot of cottage industries were diminished by the Industrial Age.
Thanks for this! Always more to learn of folktales
You're welcome! I totally agree! :)