Sofie De Langhe

Lost in registration? Missing occupations of single women in the Bruges countryside, c.1814

The absence of occupational titles for women in historical censuses has stymied numerous scholars. Various authors have explained this phenomenon as carelessness or bias on the part of the census-takers. Womens work was of little interest to the authorities and census officials focused their efforts upon the activities of the head of household. While source triangulation can be a useful tool for uncovering ‘hidden’ employment of women, it is often a complex and time-consuming process. In this article we outline an alternative to deal with the issue of missing occupations of single women in censuses by exploring their living arrangements. We identify four aspects of co-residence that can highlight the roles played within the household by single women without registered employment: their relation to the head of the household, and that individuals occupation, property and marital status. Comparing data from the 1814 population census regarding two social agro-systems and the city of Bruges, we argue that occupational titles of single women were not randomly omitted by the census officials, but reflect the embeddedness of these women in the family economy and household. While we do not refute recent research that stresses single womens economic independence during the long eighteenth century, our findings suggest that for a subset of singles this was not the case. We claim that by studying registered labour only, the historical picture of single womens work is biased or at the very least incomplete.

To thrive, one must wive? Subsistence strategies of single women in eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century rural Flanders

In eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century rural Flanders the number of unmarried women rose, as they did in the rest of Western Europe. While previous studies of unmarried women mostly concentrated on urban dwellers, this contribution focuses on the coping strategies of unmarried women in two rural areas of the Franc of Bruges characterized by two different ‘social agro-systems’. This concept aims to link the social, economic and demographic patterns with the geological characteristics and economic activities of a specific region. Based on two censuses, this article discusses the occupations of unmarried women, their household situations and their migration behaviour. The numbers show different outcomes for the two agro-systems, which validates the idea that the coping strategies of unmarried women were influenced by the region they were living in.In eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century rural Flanders the number of unmarried women rose, as they did in the rest of Western Europe. While previous studies of unmarried women mostly concentrated on urban dwellers, this contribution focuses on the coping strategies of unmarried women in two rural areas of the Franc of Bruges characterized by two different ‘social agro-systems’. This concept aims to link the social, economic and demographic patterns with the geological characteristics and economic activities of a specific region. Based on two censuses, this article discusses the occupations of unmarried women, their household situations and their migration behaviour. The numbers show different outcomes for the two agro-systems, which validates the idea that the coping strategies of unmarried women were influenced by the region they were living in.

Rural Single Female Migrants in Early-Nineteenth-Century Bruges An Exception to the Rules?

At the start of the nineteenth century, very few young single females migrated to the city of Bruges, and women from the surrounding countryside were particularly underrepresented among the migrant population. This is contrary to the situation in most other areas at that time, making Bruges unusual. This contribution seeks to explain why this was the case by focusing on the specific locales involved. It highlights the effects of socioeconomic differences between rural environments, which led to variations in the migration behavior of single women. In addition to that, recent research emphasizes the importance of events in the life course of an individual, rather than simple economics in explaining the decision to move. The results of this study indicate that occurrences such as the death of the father or the birth order within the family were indeed important triggers, but that they must be contextualized within the rural environment from which the women originated.At the start of the nineteenth century, very few young single females migrated to the city of Bruges, and women from the surrounding countryside were particularly underrepresented among the migrant population. This is contrary to the situation in most other areas at that time, making Bruges unusual. This contribution seeks to explain why this was the case by focusing on the specific locales involved. It highlights the effects of socioeconomic differences between rural environments, which led to variations in the migration behavior of single women. In addition to that, recent research emphasizes the importance of events in the life course of an individual, rather than simple economics in explaining the decision to move. The results of this study indicate that occurrences such as the death of the father or the birth order within the family were indeed important triggers, but that they must be contextualized within the rural environment from which the women originated.