A unique database on work
By going through a vast amount of sources with a fine-tooth comb, looking for clues as to what kind of jobs people had in the past, the researchers at the Department of History can see contexts and patterns that have not previously been observed or could not be handled.
“If there's a gap, the researchers want to get in there. The more unexplored and difficult to solve a problem appears, the greater the will to tackle it.”
This is how Maria Ågren, history professor, describes the background to the work started by a group of history researchers on a database filled with observations on work. The report of the project's results is due next year.
It is difficult to find information on what kind of jobs people had prior to the 1800s. Researchers in The Gender and Work Project are for example looking through court minutes and different forms of accounts from as far back as the 1500s. Even tiny fragments of information may be of use in the context of the database.
The database facilitates further progress in areas of research where historians previously gave up due to a lack of sources. Despite the ambiguity in the process of gathering observations and despite the fact that gaps still exist, Maria Ågren sees more areas where the historians of Uppsala will be able to contribute new knowledge.
The researchers can see, for example, that everyone worked. In British research, there is a conception that women did not contribute financially to the household, but Maria Ågren believes this is completely wrong.
“This conception is based on the ideal housewife who was a later construction, and does not correspond to reality in early modern society; not in Sweden, and probably not in the UK either.”
The gathered observations also reveal that historically it was perceived as valuable to work. If you could show that you worked, provided for yourself and paid tax, you commanded a special type of respect. Work created social recognition, and people with jobs had special rights.
The work on the database has been funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation. When the work is complete, the idea is to make the gathered information available to other researchers outside of the project.
Linda Koffmar