Domestic service employed many of the working class in the early 20th century. The job provided a very clear career structure; you could start off as a scullery maid, and progress to a lady’s maid, who would be at the beck and call of the mistress, or perhaps eventually to house keeper who would organize the other staff. The advantages of working in domestic service were that all your meals and accommodation came with the job. However, working hours were long and there was little opportunity for a social life. Many women preferred factory work - they had more independence and better pay than domestic service. However limitations that women faced in the industry were that there was no particular career structure therefore few promotion opportunities. Also there was huge competition from men. Shop work was also a sought after job because, again, it paid more and provided women with some independence and a much more pleasant working environment. However hours were very long like domestic service. Shop workers were usually middle class women, because you needed to be able to present yourself accordingly and have some level of education; however a certain number of higher working class women worked in shops as well.
Middle class women had better jobs as they usually had some education. But working middle class women were always unmarried because husbands were expected to provide enough income for the family. Middle class women had a range of jobs to choose from. Many became governesses, nurses or teachers. They could also be seamstresses or secretaries.
To be a governess or teacher was a good job. The duties of a governess were looking after and educating the children of a rich family. But there were disadvantages. Although it was well paid the hours were long and adult company was sparse. Also governesses could not punish the children without risk of punishment from the parents for themselves so it gave them little authority. Most women preferred teaching to the work of a governess because you had much more independence, fixed hours and much more authority over the children. Teaching was a very good profession for women in the early 20th century; teachers were seen as pillars of the community. However there were limitations for female teachers; even if a female teacher rose to the rank of Headmistress they would only be paid as much as an ordinary male teacher. Still, there was a career structure and the hope of gaining a position in authority and respect
By 1900 around 60,000 nurses were working in British hospitals. Nursing was almost exclusively a woman’s job. Florence Nightingale had transformed the role and status of nursing in the second half of the 19th century so many women wanted to follow in her footsteps. But, like a teacher or governess, when nurses were married, they were forced to resign.
So the women of the early 19th century faced many limitations in the world of work, especially working class women. Hours were long, the conditions were poor and the double burden of housework, childbearing and paid employment gave women very little independence. For middle class women, life in the workplace was a little better, but still women faced limitations regarding pay, and again independence.
