Agenda

Women and Factory Work during Early Industrialization

February 26th, 2026 | 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM Room Murano, Polo Rispoli – Ca’ Foscari University of Venice

The Venice School of Management hosts a presentation of the volume Proposte e Ricerche, 94 (2025), edited by Paola Lanaro. This collection of research explores the presence and role of female labor within centralized production settings from the early modern age to early industrialization.

Adopting a long-term perspective, the contributions analyze the forms of women’s work between the late 18th and early 20th centuries. This era was characterized by persistent patriarchal family models and significant continuity with pre-industrial society. The authors examine the relationship between female labor and family contexts, the temporal patterns of women’s presence in production sites, and the resulting legislative, religious, and social implications.

Overall, the issue provides an in-depth reflection on the regional, religious, and territorial differences that shaped the historical experience of female labor during the early stages of industrialization.

Speakers and Participants

• Keynote Speaker: Anna Bellavitis (Université de Rouen Normandie).

• In attendance: The editor Paola Lanaro and the contributing authors.