Introduction

Before the Industrial Revolution, men and women were economically interdependent. But that changed with the British Industrial Revolution. Rising male wages did not lift all boats; they amplified patriarchy. In communities where male-dominated industries were substantially higher paying, men saw themselves as superior. A similar process of cultural transformation occurred on the Zambian cob belt. Young Brooms performed bride service by working on her parents' field. Subordinate to her kin, men had to prove themselves worthy. When the mines opened up, young men gained economic autonomy and social authority. Plaid in blue overalls, copper belt men provided the lifeblood of the Zambian economy and were revered as breadwinners. At least until