Trailblazing Women of the Industrial Revolution

We hear a lot about the contribution of men to the brave new world which began to emerge in the mid-18th century with the start of the Industrial Revolution; and we can read the uplifting story of the tens of thousands of women who clocked on at the mills, mines and factories to resolutely power that revolution.

But a lot less has been written of the women who were just as instrumental and important as the factory- owning men and politicians in these momentous developments and changes to our social and industrial fabric: these were the innovative and empowered women who pioneered developments in engineering and science, business, nursing, pharmacy and medicine, education and literature, music, art, politics and women’s rights, labour law and the trade unions, philanthropy and entrepreneurship.

This book changes that great cover up, that virtual erasing of many women from our history: Trailblazing Women Empowered in the Industrial Revolution is the rarely told story of 200 or so of these women, some familiar, but most, at best, languishing until now in the obscure and obscuring footnotes of British history. This is the story of how those 200 women, and others, helped power the Industrial Revolution and change British society and labour relations for ever.

It was never, however, the case that all men were intent on obstructing women’s progress or achievements. Indeed, a number of enlightened men did acknowledge wholeheartedly the contribution women could and did make. These are described in the book, likewise the long struggle inspirational and innovative women of colour endured while overcoming male discrimination, sexism, racism and sexual violence.

This highly-researched, entertaining and fascinating history of women in the time of industrial and societal revolution is the first to guide readers through one of the most crucial times in the history of women, women and work, women in the professions, women and the vote and the juggling they did to change British society forever and lay the foundation for the more equable society we all live in today. There is, of course still much more to do, more action and fewer words…