Laura Gowing

Laura Gowing, a historian specializing in women and work in seventeenth-century London, discusses her book on young women who earned a living through needlework. She explores the significance of apprenticeship in women's lives and their negotiations with city regulations. The podcast also delves into the integration of women into institutional structures, the impact of marital status on women's work, and the relationship between women and guilds. Gowing highlights the independence of women in business and previews her upcoming project on the relationship between law, evidence, women's bodies, and legal authority.

Laura Gowing, a Professor of Early Modern History at King's College London, uncovers the pivotal roles women played in 17th century London’s workforce. The discussion reveals how apprenticeships opened economic opportunities for young women, allowing them to navigate a male-dominated society. Gowing highlights the formalization of women’s labor through guilds, their significant impact in the fashion revolution, and the social dynamics apprentices faced. The conversation offers fresh insights into women's agency and contributions in shaping an emerging consumer culture.