MASS SOCIETY IN THE 19 TH CENTURY

ORGANIZING THE WORKING CLASSES Labor Unions collectively bargained for more rights for the working class –Strikes –By 1900, 2 million workers were enrolled in British unions Growth of socialism (Marx style) –Revolution vs. evolution –Problem of nationalism

TRANSFORMATION OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT Urban reformers (i.e. Edwin Chadwick, Rudolf Virchow, Solomon Neumann) urged sanitary reform New buildings, inspectors Public parks Opening up of cities –Tearing down old defensive walls Need to bring clean water to cities and expel sewage from it –Engineers needed –Cities redesigned (Paris, Vienna) –Public baths –Building of sewers

THE ROLE OF WOMEN Cult of domesticity –The most honorable profession for women was to be a wife and stay at home with children –Children were a priority and no longer seen as mini-adults Increase in marriage rates in the 19 th century Birth rates declined

WOMEN AND WORK Women were excluded from most scientific and heavy industry jobs Conflict of interest led to piecework and sweatshops Service jobs, however, increased demand for women in the workforce –Secretaries –Telephone operators –Teachers –Nurses

MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY Family became the most important structure in society Family gatherings celebrated Children expected to play as opposed to work Introduction of the Boy Scouts in 1908 by Robert Baden-Powell Domestic servants

WORKING CLASS FAMILY Everyone expected to work to support family Childhood was over by nine or ten Women tried to imitate the middle class as much as possible Limiting work hours led to parents becoming more involved in the lives of their children

EDUCATION Universal elementary education after 1870; being “educated” meant having attended a secondary school Teacher-training schools Increased literacy led to an increase in newspapers Why education? –Liberals believed it would lead to personal and social improvement –Industrialization- more skilled workers were needed –Nationalism- teach children patriotism –Political motives- more people could vote, so they need to be educated

MASS LEISURE Music and Dance Halls Mass Tourism Team Sports Amusement Parks

MASS CONSUMPTION Department Stores –Le Bon Marche People could afford to buy more –Ready-made clothing –Needed clothes for both work and leisure –Sporting goods Advertisements