It is an insightful book, shedding light on young women's lives, ranging from "mother scrimping and scraping to keep the family decent" to experiences of limited schooling with time spent "doing needlework lessons for the troops". Once their elementary education was over at 14, the girls found themselves working long hours in repetitive jobs in the factory, shop or domestic service.
We hear Jephcott despairing of the quality of the girls' leisure pursuits when so many of them escape the tedium of their lives through the fantasy world of magazines, the cinema or the dancehall. Instead she would like them to experience girls' work that has "novelty, excitement, fun, (and) a chance to explore new things".
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
