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

TY - JOUR

T1 - Gentlewomanly capitalism? Spinsters, widows, and wealth holding in England and Wales, c.1800-1860

AU - Green, D R

AU - Owens, A

PY - 2003/8

Y1 - 2003/8

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1642569277&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/j.1468-0289.2003.00260.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1468-0289.2003.00260.x

M3 - Article

SN - 1468-0289

VL - 56

SP - 510

EP - 536

JO - ECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW

JF - ECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW

IS - 3

ER -