A lively social history of the respective roles of men and women xxx; from workplace to household, from parish church to alehouse, from market square to marriage bed. Robert Shoemaker investigates such varied topics as crime, leisure, the theatre, religious observance, notions of morality and even changing patterns of sexual activity itself. He draws on his own research as well as the exciting new scholar-ship now available on gender history. Throughout he critically re-examines the theory of 'separate spheres', challenging the view that women had greater economic and political opportunities in pre-industrial Britain.

Chapter 1 Introduction, Robert B. Shoemaker; Chapter 2 Ideas about Gender, Robert B. Shoemaker; Chapter 3 Sexuality, Robert B. Shoemaker; Chapter 4 Family and Household Life, Robert B. Shoemaker; Chapter 5 Work, Robert B. Shoemaker; Chapter 6 Religion and Politics, Robert B. Shoemaker; Chapter 7 Social and Cultural Life, Robert B. Shoemaker; Chapter 8 Conclusion: The Emergence of Separate Spheres?, Robert B. Shoemaker; backmatter1 Robert B. Shoemaker is a Lecturer in History at the University of Sheffield, Robert B. Shoemaker;