working wear

J. Kave, Black Tracker c.1900-1915

The twenty years between 1890 to 1910 saw great changes in the working lives of men and women. Early in the period working and lower-middle class women had been employed as domestic servants, or had performed dressmaking or milinery work from their own homes. Industrialisation of this work saw many of these women begin to work in factories. Although the conditions could be miserable factory work was sought in preference to domestic work. During this period middle and upper class women began entering the public sphere choosing to pursue employment in fields such as medicine or accountancy, the law or literature to gain financial and personal independence.

E.A. Lumme (1865–1935)
J. Kave, Black Tracker c.1900–1915
glass negative
From the Mandurama Collection
Pictorial Collection (M1692)
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