Industrial Revolution Dbq Essay

446 Words2 Pages

Arguably fueled by the economic necessity of many women, the Industrial Revolution was an episode in history which can be credited for the recognition of modern cities today. Though the Industrial Revolution ushered in an era of innovative machinery, increased work production, and a society which was more interconnected than ever, the Industrial Revolution for the most part, had very limited benefits on the lives of women. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, mass-production factories were singular. However, in the late eighteenth century, a period of major industrialization blossomed, resulting in the mechanization of agriculture, textile manufacturing, and a revolution in transportation. The factory systems developed during this time period …show more content…

Experiencing “...fatigue and exposure to weather, necessary to their conditions”, women suffered immensely because working conditions which they exhibited were often unsanitary and dangerous (Anonymous, Document 1). Majority of women found jobs in domestic service, textile factories, and piece work shops, and despite claims that the Industrial Revolution provided increased wages and a better standard of living, it however, resulted in the life of hardship for many. Because “remains of the absolutism of slavery still linger in the conventional arrangements of domestic service”, the Industrial Revolution epitomized inequality in the workforce (Linton). By being exposed to unsanitary working environments where women “...live under ground or just below the roof”, the lives of women had little improvements (Liton). Not only did women experience poor working conditions, they furthermore, were victimized by the unequal distribution of wages. According to the Economic History Review with illustrates the difference of wages across genders, the average ratio of wages between women and men is 0.50, men being favored. Essentially women made a significantly less amount of money than men. Therefore, as a result of the Industrial Revolution, women experienced little benefits as there were victims of poor conditions and unequal