McKenna, Stephen David (1987) The feminisation of clerical work 1870-1914. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The following thesis has five main objectives: -
1. To describe the role and position of women in clerical work in the
period circa 1870 to 1914.
2. To understand the origins of the role and position of women in
clerical work hierarchies and to offer reasons for this role and
position.
3. To use and link theoretical perspectives which are useful in
helping us to understand the origins of the role and position of
women in clerical work.
4. To consider the impact of wider social structure upon the roles
and position of women in clerical work.
5. To develop an overall framework for understanding the role and
position of women in society and in work.
These objectives will now be briefly expanded.
1. To describe the role and position of women in clerical work in the
period circa 1870 to 1914.
Throughout the thesis considerable space is given to describing the
actual work, status and market situations of female clerks. This
descriptive element is the background against which the theoretical
framework is developed and tested. It also offers us some
appreciation of what work was actually like for female clerks in
the 1870 to 1914 period, and allows us to compare their conditions
with late twentieth century clerks.
2. To understand the origins of the role and position of women, in
clerical work hierarchies and to offer reasons for this role and
position
The thesis seeks to investigate the historical process through which
females entered clerical work over the period 1870 to 1914. It seeks to
assess the role of economic environment in drawing women into clerical
work, and the changing 'status' of those women who become clerks. The
thesis notes the 'status' of clerical work in the 1870-1914 period
and how the perception of such work was changing.
3. To utilise and link theoretical perspectives which are useful in
helping us to understand the origins of the role and position of
women in clerical work
The central objective of the thesis is to offer a theoretical
framework for the analysis and comprehension of women's role and
position within clerical work. In order to achieve this two
approaches to the study of historical development are drawn on.
Firstly, the concept of patriarchy; secondly elements of the
labour process debate. It is argued throughout the thesis, but
particularly in chapters six to eight, that within the context
of clerical work, the 'gender dimension' is of crucial significance
in determining the nature of female office work; their pay and
conditions of work; their job prospects and opportunities; the
determination of 'skill' in the office; control within the office.
In short, the existence of a Patriarchal frame of reference has
contributed to the structuration of and divisions within the
clerical labour force.
4. To consider the impact of wider social structure upon the role and
position of women in clerical work
Intimately linked to objective three, the thesis aims to consider
the impact of wider social structure and values on the role and
position of women in clerical work. The importance of wider social
values concerning the role and position of women within society
is considered and related to the structuration of employment. The
thesis argues that wider social structure and values are of crucial
importance in determining the role and position of women within
clerical work.
5. To develop an overall framework for understanding the role and
position of women in society and in work
The overall objective of this thesis is to contribute to the body
of literature which seeks to understand the manner in which female
employment patternsare determined, in part, by patriarchal social
relations; that is, relations between men and women. It offers no
assessment of how to overcome this problem, but, through recognition
of the interrelationship between economic or capitalist development
and patriarchal social relations in the clerical work context, the
thesis aims to inform and educate on the subtlety and insidiousness
of this relationship.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Women clerks -- History -- 19th century, Sexual division of labor -- History -- 19th century, Sex role in the work environment -- History -- 19th century
Official Date:	September 1987
Dates:	Date Event September 1987 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	School of Industrial and Business Studies
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Price, Robert
Extent:	[7], 310 leaves
Language:	eng

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