1st Edition

Girlhood in Eighteenth-Century Britain The Working Girl

By Deborah Simonton Copyright 2026
334 Pages 46 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

334 Pages 46 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

334 Pages 46 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This book draws on a wide range of sources to provide the first comprehensive account of the experience of eighteenth-century working girlhood across all regions of Britain, examining the lifecycle stage of growing up for the middling and lower classes as they worked and prepared for a life of work. Studies of history have often tended to slide over the distinct history of girls in its focus on... Read more

Introduction

1. Defining Girlhood

2. The Child

3. Upbringing and Ideology

4. Schooling the Girls

5. Training the Girls

6. Making a Living

7. Money

8. Social Life, Sociability and Associations

9. Love, Courtship and Intimacy

10. When Things Go Wrong

11. Dealing with Misfortune

Final Thoughts

Biography

Deborah Simonton is Associate Professor of British History, emerita, University of Southern Denmark; Visiting Professor, University of Turku; and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. She is co-editor of the Routledge History of Loneliness (2023), and author of Gender in the European Town (2023).

‘A one-stop shop for students and scholars of the eighteenth century interested in the history of girlhood.’

Elaine Chalus, University of Liverpool

‘Deborah Simonton draws on her extensive research in lesser known archives to offer a comprehensive overview of a life-stage which is often overlooked. The wealth of material makes it a valuable resource for both students and educators.’

Alison Duncan, freelance historian

‘[This book] provides a comprehensive and current overview of the experience of girlhood in eighteenth-century Europe. A must read for students and scholars of early modern social history.’

Katie Barclay, Macquarie University