If you have ever been to a factory, you know that industrial work is not easy. Factory workers could not move around freely on the job, and they were constantly under pressure to keep up with the work. Many of their tasks were repetitive, and there wasn’t much time for recreation, either.
The Industrial Revolution was a period of enormous change in Europe and America
The Industrial Revolution changed many aspects of the lives of the people in the United States and Europe. It made working for employers easier and improved the standard of living for the middle and upper classes. However, it was not without its downsides. While the mechanization of labor reduced the risk of injury and increased productivity, it also made work in factories dangerous and laborious. In addition, many workers were forced to work long hours for low wages. As a result, many workers developed unions in order to fight against the changing working conditions.
While many historians debate whether or not the Industrial Revolution was a revolution, no one can dispute the changes it brought to society. This change was so profound that it fundamentally altered human life and human relationships to nature. Cities and landscapes were transformed, entire species were exterminated, and entire ecosystems changed.
It helped establish patterns of gender inequality in the workplace
The concept of gendered organizations, developed by Joan Acker, is a fundamental concept in understanding how gender inequality manifests in organizations. Gender inequality is a structural component of work organizations, a presumption that men are better workers than women. In many cases, this bias is implicit in the definition of a job, as employers look for people who are untroubled by outside obligations and can devote themselves entirely to their work. This view excludes many women, who often have primary care responsibilities.
While women have made strides in recent years, there is still a large gender gap in the workplace. For example, in the United States, women earn eighty-five cents for every dollar that a man earns. Furthermore, a study by Adzuna found that only 11 percent of high-earning employees are women. Developing solutions that cultivate inclusion and diversity in hiring processes is key to creating an equal workplace.
As a result of this structural gender imbalance, women began to protest against their working conditions in the 1840s. Their rights to organize were restricted and their jobs were often the lowest paying. They were also socialized to believe that their place was in the home and not in the workplace. This resulted in an uneven workforce and an inadequate level of worker solidarity. Further, women had limited political influence, which limited their ability to lobby politicians and change the conditions in the workplace.
It lowered costs of goods
The Industrial Revolution brought about dramatic changes in society and the working conditions in factories, but there were also some hazards. For example, workers from the countryside had to adapt to a much faster pace of life. Moreover, they had little personal autonomy. They had to be at the factory when the whistle blew and could risk losing their wages if they missed work.
In fact, working conditions were very harsh and grueling. Factory workers were not free to move about, because one wrong step could shut down a machine. Additionally, their jobs were monotonous and they were under constant pressure to complete them quickly. This caused them to not have much time for rest and recreation. Furthermore, they were not allowed to go outside and enjoy the natural environment, as officials would often ban them from doing so.
It increased the number of workers
The Industrial Revolution ushered in a new middle class that included skilled workers, managers, clerks, and accountants. As workers became disillusioned by the lack of fair wages and conditions, they organized themselves into labor unions to fight for better working conditions. Eventually, government intervention led to safety regulations that made factories and workplaces safer and shortened work hours. As a result, the balance of trade shifted in favor of producers, increasing tax revenue for governments and wealth for those who produced goods. However, these changes led to an increase in inequality between goods-producing and goods-consuming countries.
In the early years of the Industrial Revolution, people had to work in factories for long hours for very low pay. Many workers were unemployed or had very low skill levels and earned as little as $8 or $10 a week. Children were often used for less-skilled jobs and were paid only a few cents an hour. In addition, they were often not given any breaks and often received threats of losing their jobs if they took time off.
