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18th Century Women and Family

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Submitted By eimearl16
Words 2902
Pages 12
The eighteenth century was a time of significant social, cultural and economic change for Europe. The century included both the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions. They transformed demographics, working methods and economic structures. Their consequences impacted on the family income, both in terms of how money was earned and who in the family earned it. One of the consequences of the Agricultural and Industrial Revolution was a shift in populations to more urban areas. The revolution also impacted on the self-sufficient economy of rural life with increased reliance on industrial employment.
This essay will examine these changes and discuss how they impacted on women and the family. This will be achieved by examining the changes in gender roles and, in particular, changes to women’s roles in the family and society and how this directly impacted on the shape and function of the family. The aim is to explore the cultural and economic shift in eighteenth century society from a mainly rural, agrarian society to and more urban, industrialises society. The essay will also consider how these changes impacted on family life during this period. The issue which this essay focuses on is; that as women and children began to play a greater role in the work place the shape and function of family changed.
Eighteenth century life was dependant on agriculture. During the early years of the century over eighty percent of the population were living in rural areas. Although there were demographic changes occurring, with people leaving rural areas to seek employment in the towns and cities, both the rural people and those in towns and cities were dependant on agriculture to support them. Even rapidly urbanising countries such as England and France still heavily depended on the harvest.
During the Agricultural Revolution in Britain people began developing new methods of farming.

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