How were the lives of different classes of British women affected by the Industrial Revolution?

Women were supposed to observe strict discipline. They were also punished for violation of any discipline. Women of all classes began to work in factories. It helped them to get financial independence and self-esteem. But their wages were low as compared to men for same working hours. Industrialisation was a blessing in disguise. A number of food items became cheap and available in abundance. It increased the social status of women in particular.

As the use of machinery spread and fewer workers were needed, industrialists preferred to employ women who would be less agitated about their poor working conditions and work for lower wages than men. They were employed in large numbers in the cotton textile industry in Lancashire and Yorkshire. Women were also the main workers in the silk lace-making and knitting industries, as well as in the metal industries of Birmingham.