The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman’s Work by Virginia Penny
Virginia Penny’s mid-19th-century guidebook, titled The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman’s Work, is a comprehensive work functions as an encyclopedia and career manual, created to address the urgent need for women to gain livelihoods during a time of significant societal change, especially in the wake of the Civil War. Penny intended the text to provide practical advice on various occupations beyond traditional roles, arguing against misconceptions about women in the workforce. The book specifically discusses wage disparities, necessary educational qualifications, and the overall importance of employment to women’s dignity. Ultimately, the source highlights the availability and nature of this historical text, which serves as a manual for career opportunities and an argument for expanded roles for women.
Who May Benefit from the Book
- Women needing to earn a livelihood.
- Students of 19th-century social history.
- Researchers in Gender & Sexuality Studies.
- Those interested in economic conditions and wage disparity.
- Scholars examining Encyclopedias/Reference texts.
Top 3 Key Insights
- This is a comprehensive guidebook from the mid-19th century written to detail occupations available to women during a period of profound social change.
- Virginia Penny emphasized the urgent social context, particularly the need for women’s independence following the Civil War.
- The book aims to provide practical advice, address wage disparities, and argue for expanded roles for women in trades and professions.
4 More Lessons and Takeaways
- The author intended the work as a manual providing descriptions of women’s work within a business context.
- The cyclopædia also addresses critical components such as educational qualifications necessary for various jobs.
- Penny stresses that employment is fundamentally important to the dignity and well-being of women.
- The text is categorized under Social Sciences, particularly Economic History and Conditions, and is considered fairly easy to read (7th-grade level).
The Book in 1 Sentence
This mid-19th century encyclopedia provides practical advice on diverse occupations for women, arguing for expanded roles and equitable wages.
The Book Summary in 1 Minute
“The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman’s Work” is Virginia Penny’s comprehensive mid-19th-century guidebook detailing various occupations available to women. Written during a time of great social change, which was significantly propelled by the Civil War, the book urgently addresses the growing need for women to secure an independent livelihood. Penny structured the work as an encyclopedia, offering practical advice, descriptions of jobs within a business context, and necessary educational qualifications. Beyond merely listing opportunities, the author argues against misconceptions surrounding women in the workforce. She advocates for expanding women’s professional roles, highlighting critical issues such as wage disparities and stressing the importance of employment to women’s dignity and well-being.
Chapter-wise Book Summary
Introduction
“The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman’s Work,” authored by Virginia Penny, is a critical comprehensive guidebook published in the mid-19th century. It functions as an encyclopedia detailing various career opportunities and addressing the urgent social context of women needing to earn a livelihood, especially following the deployment of a million men to the battlefield during the Civil War. Penny aimed to dismantle misconceptions, discuss wage disparities, and advocate for expanded roles for women in various trades and professions.
Chapter I: The Urgent Social Context and Authorial Intent (The Preface and Introduction)
Note: No direct quote is available in the source material for this section.
The opening of the book, comprising the preface and an introduction, articulates the urgent social context of the mid-19th century. Virginia Penny uses these sections to establish the necessity of the work, emphasizing that societal changes—particularly the massive deployment of men to war—created a critical need for women to earn a livelihood. Penny outlines her core intent: to create a manual that furnishes women with practical information about career opportunities. She addresses prevalent misconceptions surrounding women in the workforce and advocates forcefully for expanding women’s professional roles beyond traditional expectations.
Chapter Key Points:
- Articulates urgent social context (e.g., Civil War impact).
- Emphasizes the critical need for women’s livelihood.
- Outlines intent to provide practical career information.
Chapter II: The Cyclopædia of Employments
Note: No direct quote is available in the source material for this section.
The main body of the work serves as a detailed cyclopædia, providing extensive descriptions of the various employments, trades, and professions available to women. Within these descriptions, Penny incorporates practical information necessary for success, addressing educational qualifications, the specific business context of the work, and the pervasive issue of wage disparities. This compilation of opportunities aims to provide women with insights into careers they can pursue outside of traditional roles. Ultimately, the author highlights the profound link between securing employment and achieving dignity and well-being for women.
Chapter Key Points:
- Serves as an encyclopedia of available jobs.
- Details wage disparities and business context.
- Focuses on expanding roles beyond traditional jobs.
Notable Quotes from the Book
As no direct quotations are available within the provided source materials, this section cannot be completed. The text primarily provides summary and contextual information regarding Virginia Penny’s purpose and the book’s contents.
About the Author
Virginia Penny (born 1826) is known as the author of The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman’s Work. This comprehensive guidebook, written in the mid-19th century, was a response to the urgent societal needs of the time, particularly the need for women to achieve economic independence following the upheaval of the Civil War. Penny’s work is characterized by its meticulous research into various occupations, addressing critical issues like educational qualifications and persistent wage disparities. She passionately argued for expanding women’s roles in various trades and professions, aiming to create a resource that linked employment opportunities directly to the dignity and well-being of women. No further details regarding her personal life or other published titles are available in the provided sources.
How to Get the Most from the Books
Use this cyclopædia as a historical reference to understand mid-19th-century employment conditions, educational requirements, and arguments for gender equity in the workforce.
Conclusion
The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman’s Work is a historically significant manual by Virginia Penny, functioning both as an exhaustive reference text and a powerful piece of social commentary. Written in the mid-19th century, it confronted the social realities requiring women to earn a livelihood, particularly after the Civil War. By meticulously documenting available trades, discussing educational needs, and arguing against wage disparity, Penny provided a practical tool while simultaneously advocating for the dignity and expansion of women’s professional roles. This work remains an important source for studying 19th-century economic history and the evolving role of women in the labor force.