Lecture by Bob Pierik

Abstract: This lecture considers different spatial lenses to examine the intersections of work, space, and gender. It shows how men and women took to the streets to make their living, by doing their work itself or by commuting to a work location, by working at home or in the home of someone else. It discusses the complex layers of domesticity and mobility that connect closely to women’s everyday access to the streets. Women’s labour and the gendered division of work is described in detail, not per specialized sector but as an issue of the general gendered geography of work. The results show strong gendered differences but no strict separations of gendered spheres: although more men work outside and more women inside, we also found men working at home and women working outside – although notably not as much. It also aims to conceptually further the debate on early modern domestic and household work by precisely untangling these concepts and considering the domestic work of men.

Bio: Bob Pierik completed his PhD at the Amsterdam School of Historical Studies (ASH). He is interested in interdisciplinary approaches to early modern urban history, gender history and issues of political economy. His PhD-research on gender and mobility in early modern Amsterdam was part of the NWO project The Freedom of the Streets. Gender and Urban Space in Europe and Asia (1600-1850) under supervision of Dr. Danielle van den Heuvel. 

IISH Seminar: This lecture is part of the monthly IISH Seminar series.
In principle, seminars take place every first Tuesday of the month. The seminar is open to the public, but with regard to accommodation, we would like you to register, jacqueline.rutte@bb.huc.knaw.nl.