Work: The Springburn Experience 1840-1988

Women at work

In a traditional industrial community the man was the breadwinner and the woman raised the family. Women were expected to stop work when they got married. Many women did work however, either through choice, or because their husbands were ill, unemployed or dead. Much women's work was similar to their unpaid work in the home - caring for others, cleaning, cooking or serving. Women were paid less than men for equally valuable work and were excluded from many forms of training.

Stobhill Hospital laundry; hand-ironing section, 1931

Woman using a tyre boring machine, Cowlairs Works, 1942

War Work

World War I

During World War I many men were called up to fight. Their places in the factories were taken by women. To protect the jobs and wages of their members Trades Unions insisted that women do only unskilled work. In practice many women became very skillful.

After the war women had to give their jobs up to returning soldiers. In 1918 women over 30 were given the vote. They only got the vote at the same age as men in 1929.

World War II

Again women were called in to replace men, and after the war had to leave the works. This time however they were able to keep much of the freedom and economic independence they gained.

Women have much greater work opportunities today, though the world of paid work is still dominated by men, and women have to struggle to be treated equally

Lesley A Williams and Ellen McVean, Stobhill Hospital pharmacy, 1988

Cowlairs Carriage Cleaners, c1918