Patriarchy at Work

The concept of 'patriarchy' is one which signals a sharp divide between traditions of feminist thought. Sylvia Walby attempts to conceptualize 'patriarchy' in a way that takes account not only of the complexity of relationships of gender, but also of the subtleties of the interconnections of patriarchy and capitalism. She rejects those accounts which treat patriarchy as a unified set of relations, or which confine the site of patriarchy to any one privileged sphere such as the family. Instead, she elaborates a novel view of patriarchy as a set of 'relatively autonomous relations', the connections between which are spelled out through a variety of detailed case studies. In contrast to many other views of 'capitalist patriarchy', Sylvia Walby characterizes the relationship between capitalism and patriarchy as a relationship, not of harmony and mutual accommodation, but of tension and conflict. This thesis is substantiated through a comparative historical analysis of three contrasting areas of employment: cotton textiles, engineering and clerical work. These analyses show the shortcomings of much conventional literature in sociology, history and economics on women's employment, which pays insufficient attention to the independence of patriarchal relations. The book draws upon sociological, historical, economic and geographic materials to argue for an understanding of gender relations in terms of the specific tensions and compromises between patriarchal and capitalist relations. Exploring the impact of the state on patterns of employment and unemployment completes a book rich in theoretical and empirical analysis. Patriarchy at Work will be recognized as a major contribution to feminist thought and the social sciences.

The concept of 'patriarchy' is one which signals a sharp dividebetween traditions of feminist thought. Sylvia Walby attemptsto conceptualize 'patriarchy' in a way that takes account not onlyof the complexity of relationships of gender, but also of thesubtleties of the interconnections of patriarchy andcapitalism.She rejects those accounts which treat patriarchy as a unified setof relations, or which confine the site of patriarchy to any oneprivileged sphere such as the family. Instead, she elaboratesa novel view of patriarchy as a set of 'relatively autonomousrelations', the connections between which are spelled out through avariety of detailed case studies. In contrast to many otherviews of 'capitalist patriarchy', Sylvia Walby characterizes therelationship between capitalism and patriarchy as a relationshipnot of harmony and mutual accommodation, but of tension andconflict.This thesis is substantiated through a comparative historicalanalysis of three contrasting areas of employment: cotton textilesengineering and clerical work. These analyses show the shortcomingsof much conventional literature in sociology, history and economicson women's employment, which pays insufficient attention to theindependence of patriarchal relations. The book draws uponsociological, historical, economic and geographic materials toargue for an understanding of gender relations in terms of thespecific tensions and compromises between patriarchal andcapitalist relations. Exploring the impact of the state onpatterns of employment and unemployment completes a book rich intheoretical and empirical analysis.Patriarchy at Work will be recognized as a majorcontribution to feminist thought and the social sciences.

List of Tables viAcknowledgements viii1 Introduction 12 Theories of Gender Inequality: A Critique 53 Towards a New Theory of Patriarchy 504 Theories of Women and Paid Work 705 Gender Relations in Employment: 1800-1914 906 The Two Wars and Between: 1914-45 1567 Post-War Progress? 2028 Conclusion 243Appendix I Women's Membership of the Principal Trade Unions, 1870-1918 249Appendix II Industrial and Employment Appeals Tribunals Affecting Women 258Appendix III Main Statistical Sources 259References 260Index 282