Ale, Beer, and Brewsters in England: Women's Work in a Changing World
0
0
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, Menrva Books earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Author Description
Women brewed and sold most of the ale consumed in medieval England, but after 1350, men slowly took over the trade. By 1600, most brewers in London were male, and men also dominated the trade in many towns and villages. This book asks how, when, and why brewing ceased to be women's work and instead became a job for men. Employing a wide variety of sources and methods, Bennett vividly describes how brewsters (that is, female brewers) gradually left the trade. She also offers a compelling account of the endurance of patriarchy during this time of dramatic change.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the historical transition of the brewing industry in medieval England from a female-dominated trade to one controlled by men. Judith M. Bennett, a historian specializing in medieval women's work, utilizes archival records, court rolls, and economic data to analyze the shift occurring between 1350 and 1600. She argues that the professionalization and commercialization of brewing facilitated the exclusion of women, reinforcing patriarchal structures within the labor market.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of the transition of brewing from a domestic craft to a commercialized industry.
- Examination of economic and social factors contributing to the displacement of female brewers.
- Use of primary source documents including manorial records, tax rolls, and guild archives.
- Exploration of the endurance of patriarchal systems during periods of economic transformation.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Historians and scholars of gender studies frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of labor history and patriarchy in the late Middle Ages. Readers often note the clarity of the author's argument and the meticulous use of archival evidence to support her historical claims.
Page Count:
384
Publication Date:
1995-01-12
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0195073908
ISBN-13:
9780195073904
History
Gender Studies
Brewing
Great Britain
Economic History
Social History
