The Invisible Half – Women’s Work in Family History | Nisius Family
Social History

The Invisible Half

Women’s work in historical documents – what church records and censuses don’t tell us

~10%
of historical work was documented
0
occupation entries for women before 1900
5–7
children per family (average)
Waterline of Documentation
Visible in Documents
“Dorothy Nisius, Accountant” 1940
“Mary Nisius, Teacher” 1920
Invisible Beneath the Surface
Field Work
Sowing, harvest, livestock care
Child Rearing
5–7 children per family
Textile Work
Spinning, weaving, sewing
Household Management
Cooking, preserving, cleaning
Unpaid Undocumented Indispensable

Field Work

Details will be displayed here…

“ For every man with a recorded occupation, there was a woman whose life’s work appears in no document. She is there nonetheless – in every generation, in every line. Without her, none of us would be here.

When Women Became Visible

Before 1850
Church records list only: “Wife of…”, “Daughter of…”, “Widow of…”
1850–1900
First censuses record women – but usually without occupation
1900–1940
Occasionally occupations appear: Teacher, seamstress, domestic servant
1940
US Census: Notably many Nisius women as “Accountant” – the breakthrough
Today
Women and men are recorded equally – after 400 years

What Church Records Show

Baptisms, weddings, funerals – and for men, their occupation. Women were defined through their father or husband.

The Typical Day

Rise before dawn, make fire, feed livestock, care for children, cook, wash, spin – until after sunset.

Modern Perspective

Today this work is called “care work.” It has an estimated economic value of 40% of GDP.

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