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Gender Gaps in Wages and Mortality Rates During Industrialization: The Case of Alcoy, Spain, 1860–1914

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  • Pilar Beneito
  • José J. Garcia-Gómez
Abstract
What role did women play during industrialization? Interpretations of this key period of history have been largely based on analyses of men’s work. This paper offers evidence of the effects of women’s involvement in the industrialization process that took place in Alcoy, Spain, over the period 1860–1914. Using data drawn from historical sources, the study analyzes labor force participation rates and wage series for women and men in the textile industry and three other sectors of activity (education, health, and low-skill services). The paper then connects the gender pay gaps with life expectancy indicators. Results suggest that women’s contribution to household income might have favored the female life-expectancy advantage, an effect that seems to have been channeled through a reduction in the relative mortality rates of female infants and girls, at the expense of a higher mortality rate of working-age women.HIGHLIGHTS Analyzing women’s early labor market participation helps interpret current trends in women’s wages and life conditions.Gender wage gaps in 1860–1914 in Alcoy, Spain are representative of women’s earnings during industrialization.The research connects women’s earnings with gender differentials in life expectancy.Mortality rates of girls and elderly women decreased as compared to men’s rates.The opposite occurred to working-age women, who were exposed to poor working conditions.

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  • Pilar Beneito & José J. Garcia-Gómez, 2022. "Gender Gaps in Wages and Mortality Rates During Industrialization: The Case of Alcoy, Spain, 1860–1914," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(1), pages 114-141, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:femeco:v:28:y:2022:i:1:p:114-141
    DOI: 10.1080/13545701.2021.1983190
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    1. Francisco J. Beltrán Tapia & Michail Raftakis, 2019. "‘All little girls, the bad luck!’ Sex ratios and gender discrimination in 19th-century Greece," Working Papers 0172, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology

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