The gender of a spinner could be male or female. Historically, while some textile roles were strictly gendered, spinning was an occupation accessible to both men and women.
Understanding the Role of Spinners in Textile Production
In the historical context, particularly leading up to the end of the seventeenth century, the textile industry featured various roles, some of which were clearly delineated by gender. However, spinning stood out as a notable exception, embracing both male and female labor.
Gendered Roles in Textile Craft
The division of labor in textile production was often defined by specific tasks:
- Weaving: Exclusively performed by men.
- Wool Picking and Burling: Tasks typically undertaken only by women.
- Spinning: Uniquely, spinners could be male or female. This flexibility highlights that spinning, unlike other specialized tasks, was not confined by traditional gender norms of the era.
Employment and Economic Context
By the late seventeenth century, the structure of the textile industry saw a shift towards more formalized employment:
- Waged Labor: A significant number of both spinners and weavers worked for wages, typically for cloth-drapers, rather than solely as independent artisans. This indicates a more organized and commercialized industry.
- Family Involvement: The industry often involved entire families. For instance, approximately three-quarters of all married female spinners had husbands who also worked within the textile industry, underscoring a strong familial connection to the trade. This interdependence highlights how essential the textile sector was to household economies.
Why the Gender Neutrality in Spinning?
While the provided reference doesn't explicitly state why spinning was gender-neutral, its nature as a preliminary step in textile production, perhaps less physically demanding than weaving or more adaptable to various domestic settings, might have contributed to its broader acceptance across genders. It allowed for a more inclusive workforce, leveraging available labor irrespective of gender to meet the demands of cloth production.
| Role | Typical Gender |
|---|---|
| Spinner | Male or Female |
| Weaver | Men Only |
| Wool Picker and Burler | Women Only |
