Women s History Review· 2026Q1
Mary Brooksbank and everyday life in a women’s town
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- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Mary Brooksbank's writings offer a unique perspective on the daily lives and agency of working-class women in industrial Scotland, detailing their resilience against repetitive work, harsh social conditions, and gender inequality.
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Key points
- Mary Brooksbank's writings offer a rare glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of a working woman in industrial society.
- Female millworkers' significant contribution to household incomes gave them greater confidence in dealing with men.
- Brooksbank's values were shaped by her Catholic upbringing, communist party, and mother.
- Working-class culture, community, and supportive relationships (including her husband) provided Brooksbank with a strong sense of identity.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
The writings of Mary Brooksbank, mill worker and communist activist, provide a window into the thoughts and feelings of a working woman in industrial society. She coped with repetitive work, harsh social conditions and gender inequality. Female millworkers, although poor, made a greater contribution to household incomes than was usual in her lifetime, giving them confidence in dealing with men. Mary’s values and attitudes were shaped by her Catholic upbringing, the communist party, and her mother, who raised a large family. Working-class culture gave her a sense of identity. She benefited from the camaraderie of the tenement, the mill and the Dundee Working Women’s Guild, friendship with individual women, and a supportive husband. Her depictions of poverty are unsurpassed.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Women s History Review, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: History
HistoryArts and Humanities