Women at work
Presented here are extracts from interviews conducted in 1980 by Veronica Beechey and Tessa Perkins of the 糖心TV University sociology department as part of a study of the part-time employment of women in various parts of the private and public sectors in Coventry. The study was published as (Cambridge, 1987).
The interviews provide evidence of attitudes to part-time work and women鈥檚 employment generally whilst some also contain descriptions of the tasks undertaken in particular jobs. They can be heard in their entirety from the relevant descriptions in .
On related themes we also hold:
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in 1984 on the experiences of women workers at Courtaulds and GEC in Coventry, 1920-1940 (digitised);
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in 1982-1989 with women involved in equal rights issues in the European Union.
There is also a full list of digitised interviews of female workers, managers and others arranged by employment sector.
Baking
Mrs Fulton, part-time cake decorator at Storer's Bakery, interviewed by Tessa Perkins
鈥淲e pipe them out flat [and] drape them over poles to dry鈥� (1.55)
The weekly intricacies of preparing three-tier wedding cakes.
Listen to the whole interview: MSS.278/4/1/2 (32:03), (32:07); MSS.278/4/1/3 (31:54), (32:00).
Mr Olgiati, Bakers鈥� Union official, interviewed by Tessa Perkins
鈥淚n the daytime the women made the cakes鈥� (1:44)
The traditional male/female division of labour in baking and the change of products as the ovens cooled.
Listen to the whole interview: MSS.278/4/1/13 (30:32), (30:34); MSS.278/4/1/14 (30:28), (30:28).
Mr Draper, accountant at Sutton鈥檚 Bakery, interviewed by Tessa Perkins
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 snatch you off the street and drag you in!鈥� (2:11)
The resentful attitude of some working women.
鈥淚 would鈥檝e thought that it was necessary to stay at home and look after a young baby鈥� (1:25)
An old-fashioned view of the return of mothers to the workplace?
Listen to the whole interview: MSS.278/4/1/7 (23:43), (30:33); MSS.278/4/1/8 (7:39).
Mechanical engineering
Sid Owen, personnel officer at Alfred Herbert Limited, interviewed by Tessa Perkins
鈥淚f they weren鈥檛 busy all the time they could do a bit of knitting鈥� (1:08)
Women operating overhead cranes with a more sensitive touch on the buttons than their male colleagues.
Electrical engineering
Listen to the whole interview: MSS.278/4/3/1 (31:55), (26:30).
John Corriman, training controller at GEC, interviewed by Veronica Beechey
"A disgracefully small proportion of the population鈥� (2:38)
The dearth of female engineers and possible ways to remedy it.
鈥淎 little computer linked to a typewriter" (1:48)
A 拢6000 Olivetti word processor reducing the need for clerk/typists but providing extra job satisfaction for 鈥渢he girls in the office.鈥�
Listen to the whole interview: MSS.278/4/4/1 (31:57), (31:48); MSS.278/4/4/2 (32:52), (32:42); MSS.278/4/4/3 (32:04), (32:07).