Upon analysis of Martha Ballard’s diary during the period 1785 to 1790, it is revealed that the nature of women’s work in later eighteenth-century New England was strongly divided by gender. According to Ulrich, although women could both work at home or outside, their contribution was never officially recognized. In addition, it can be deduced from the diary that women were expected to abide by the constrains of a patriarchal society while also conforming to gender norms. However, the women in these times were strangely empowered through the informal economy they had created for themselves.These deductions are primarily supported by the evidence found through the entries in Martha’s diary. The citations referred to below provide support and
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They participated in a wide range of activities from production of goods to participating in economic exchanges with other women as was typical for the women in Martha’s diary (Thatcher, 1991, p. 89). Martha in particular did housework, grew herbs, mended clothing, tended to the children, was a good wife and neighbor in addition to practicing midwifery. Overall, she did it all. Martha was working all the time. Due to such, she did not have a work life balance. Analysis of the diary reveals that she actually preferred work away from home as she indicates boredom through her account of the days where she did stay home. For instance, the entry on January 4, 1785 reads, “Monday. Confined to my roome Still.;” then on the following Wednesday “Wednsd Still Confind….” (Ballard, 1785). This goes to show that although Martha had help from the other girls in the house was a financial contributor to the home, she still had to perform her duties as the woman of the house.
Martha did not perceive herself as powerless and neither acted in such manner. For instance, Martha travelled frequently due to her career. In such manner, so did other women, even staying overnight in their own neighborhoods when their services were demanded (Thatcher, 1991, p. 94). Moreover, the girls at Martha’s home as well as others who partook in such entrepreneurship and trade developed skills to sustain their own families and in such way, the future generation
They participated in a wide range of activities from production of goods to participating in economic exchanges with other women as was typical for the women in Martha’s diary (Thatcher, 1991, p. 89). Martha in particular did housework, grew herbs, mended clothing, tended to the children, was a good wife and neighbor in addition to practicing midwifery. Overall, she did it all. Martha was working all the time. Due to such, she did not have a work life balance. Analysis of the diary reveals that she actually preferred work away from home as she indicates boredom through her account of the days where she did stay home. For instance, the entry on January 4, 1785 reads, “Monday. Confined to my roome Still.;” then on the following Wednesday “Wednsd Still Confind….” (Ballard, 1785). This goes to show that although Martha had help from the other girls in the house was a financial contributor to the home, she still had to perform her duties as the woman of the house.
Martha did not perceive herself as powerless and neither acted in such manner. For instance, Martha travelled frequently due to her career. In such manner, so did other women, even staying overnight in their own neighborhoods when their services were demanded (Thatcher, 1991, p. 94). Moreover, the girls at Martha’s home as well as others who partook in such entrepreneurship and trade developed skills to sustain their own families and in such way, the future generation