"Lacing Together Histories: Labor and Globalization in the British Corset Industry"

This paper explores the history of labor in the British corset industry as it intersected with the global market. The corset industry, a significant manufacturing sector from the late 19th to early 20th century, provides a unique lens to examine labor practices, gender roles, and economic transformations during a period of rapid industrialization and globalization. The corset industry was characterized by labor-intensive processes, often performed under harsh conditions. Women, who made up the majority of the workforce, worked long hours for low wages, facing strict workplace regulations and limited rights, but they occasionally fought back and won better working conditions through the use of organized labor. This paper will explore how the corset industry's labor practices were influenced by and contributed to broader trends in globalization and industrialization. By tracing the historical development of these practices, we can draw parallels to contemporary issues such as digital sweatshops and offshoring.