I agree with Hanne Willert, that work in pre-modern and early modern times (also
in the 19th century) played a very great role in the life of poor people and
that children and adults had to contribute their part to the daily work and
income. A strict distinction should be mayed between different social groups and
classes.
The rank of work seems to be higher today than in former times. This phenomen
depends on the fact, that the place of living (the house, cottage, palace,
castle etc.) and the place of working (office, factory, concern) became more and
more different places since the beginning or the middle of the 19th century.
Both areas - working and living - were mostly mixed at the same place in
pre-modern times. In addition the head of family - that means the man - became
more and more responsible for working and producing the hole income of the
family, while the wife had to care for the upbringing of the children, for the
household etc.
So I think, that not the rank and value of work changed, but our view on the
significance of work.
All these problems are part of a wonderfull book of a german historian:
Ingeborg Weber-Kellermann, Die Kindheit. Eine Kulturgeschichte,
first published in Frankfurt/Main and Leipzig 1979, last edition Frankfurt/Main
1997. Besides of this book she wrote a lot of articles dealing with this topic.
Sorry for my bad English,
Peter Männig
Brandvorwerkstraße 30
04275 Leipzig
Germany
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