Gentlewomanly capitalism? Spinsters, widows, and wealth holding in England and Wales, c.1800-1860

D R Green, A Owens

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

95 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article examines the demographic and geographical importance of wealthy middle-class women. It argues that in certain towns and cities, notably London, such women were of sufficient importance to merit attention in their own right. Drawing upon a sample of wills, it describes the types of wealth owned by these women. By examining women's investment in government securities, it argues that women's wealth was of crucial importance to the British state. Its findings challenge conventional understandings of the relationships between gender ideology, wealth holding, and economic development.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)510 - 536
Number of pages27
JournalECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW
Volume56
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2003

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