Living in the nineteenth and early twentieth century: Concluding Questions from "Breadwinner"



In all the chapters of Emma Griffin’s Breadwinner Book it would seem that material progress did not reduce poverty, rather such progress created poverty.  Henry George made this observation in the 1870s and with all the progress of the twenty first century it would still appear to be the case.  Edwardian England had food for all but children had to resort to picking it out of the gutter.  Our country today has sufficient food for all, yet many rely on food banks.
An initial glance at autobiographies and material associated with them suggests that their natural place would be in the sphere of social and cultural history.  Is it viable to link them to economic history?  What would be the links?  How was household income affected by the mood and values of the time?  A problem with income becomes apparent when a household lacks the father either through death, desertion or alcoholism.  An increase in individualism in the nineteenth and early twentieth century meant that fathers in particular may not contribute to the costs of the household and there was little or no state welfare or charitable assistance, even if people were willing to accept it.
The benefits of wage increases in the 1830s were shared between the sexes.  This meant that women remained in a situation sub-ordinate to men as many men would make little or no effort to provide for the whole family If fathers contributed to the household a fair standard of living could be achieved for the family.  As many men would keep some of their wages for themselves, they had autonomy in decision making that was not open to women.  In some circumstances this autonomy persists in our country today.
We may conclude that autobiographical information is able to give some pointers to economic history although it lacks policy and detail about Government Economic direction.  Speaking of their family circumstances through the medium of autobiography may be a way in which people can make sense of how they fit into a broader social culture and economic picture.  Think about your own life. If you wrote an autobiography would it help put into perspective the events of your life time?


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