What were the changes in the kind of work available to women in London between the nineteenth and the twentieth century? Explain the factors which led to this change.

Pattern of employment for women in 18th-19th century London. (i) In late 18th and 19th century, a large number of women were employed in factories. With technological developments, women gradually lost their industrial jobs and were forced to work within households. According to 1861 census about one-fourth of a million women worked as domestic servants in London-most of them were from migrant families. (ii) Many women increased their family income by taking lodgers or paying guests or earned through tailoring, washing or matchbox making. (iii) However there was a change after the First World War started. When women got employment in wartime industries and offices, many of them withdrew from domestic service. The factors which brought these changes : (i) Factories employed large number of women in late 18th and 19th century with technological developments, but gradually women lost their jobs and were forced to work within households. (ii) There was a great change in 20th century. As the First World War started, women got employment in wartime industries and offices. They gradually withdrew from domestic services. read less