Women's Work

What is “women’s work?”

Women's labor is shaped not just by personal preference but by broad trends in American economic, legal, and political history. Race, ethnicity, class, legal status, sexual orientation, and gender presentation have influenced how we assign and categorize “women’s” and “men’s” work. The objects in this collection, drawn from the New-York Historical Society Museum and Library, illustrate the enormous range of tasks New York women have performed over the centuries—within and outside of the home, legally and "under the table," paid and unpaid, done by women who were free, indentured, or enslaved. Many of these objects were displayed in the Joyce B. Cowin Women's History Gallery for the 2023-24 exhibition Women’s Work.

Some objects represent aspects of women's carework—for children, the aged, and the disabled—that are so familiar that they have come to seem “natural," motivated by love rather than compensation, and with skills arising from instinct rather than professional training. Yet this work has deeply political implications, is necessary for human survival and underpins the entire economic market. Other objects may be less obvious, but no less important: this collection brings forward diverse examples of women’s labor, including objects that showcase the entrepreneurial drive of Black and Haudenosaunee women in the mid-1800s, the popularity of "male impersonators" in 19th century theater, and the fierce dedication of women activists during the late 20th century HIV/AIDS crisis.

While by no means complete, together, these objects pose broad questions about "women's work," and reach broader conclusions: Women’s work is essential to American society, defies categorization, and is inherently political. Women’s work is everywhere.