the Butler & the Housekeeper
Posted by P. Bingham on February 06, 1998 at 19:03:39:
In response to Housekeeper vs Butler, written by Ann on February 06, 1998 at 00:00:35
Anne,
Men have never lost thier dominance in the household, as far as the upper classes where many servants would be involved. There would always have been a steward/butler and a housekeeper. However, farther down the social scale the office of the butler and the housekeeper would have been combined. A housekeeper could easily manage modest country home with the help of a parlormaid, she would cook as well. This might be the case even in the absence of a mistress of the home. This was the case in Jane Austen's household where they had Martha to handle these things. This really isn't a matter of one office losing power to another. In the lower part of the social stratisphere, when it comes to the home, the women have generally been in control.
Patricia
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