The phrase “To knit, to spin, to sew, or mend. To scrub, to rub, to earn, and not to spend” comes from a poem published in The Evening Post during the eighteenth century.
It reflects the deeply ingrained gender roles of colonial America, where women’s responsibilities were primarily domestic and their labor was considered essential to the family’s survival and economic stability
Women’s Work as Economic Contribution
Though women were not usually wage earners like in today’s world, their domestic work such as spinning, sewing, cooking, preserving food, and managing the household were their contributions to the household earning money.
These types of tasks saved the family from having to purchase goods or services, which in turn made women’s work crucial to the household economy.
Thrift, Resourcefulness, and Self-Sufficiency
The phrase “to earn and not to spend” encompasses the colonial values of thrift, frugality, and self-sufficiency. With limited access to goods and services, families had to rely on their own labor and ingenuity. Women played a vital role in this system by minimizing waste and maximizing available resources.
Adages like “waste not, want not” reflected a widespread cultural expectation that all family members, especially women, would contribute to either earning or saving. This spirit of “making do” led many households to produce homespun cloth or homemade goods, out of necessity.
Shifting Values
In colonial society women’s roles were central to the family’s survival. Their work was not only physically demanding but also held moral and economic value. Over time, as the colonies developed and consumer goods became more accessible, the strict ideals of frugality and self-reliance began to give way to a more complex economy shaped by what we call consumerism today.
Still, the ethos captured in “to earn and not to spend” persisted as a foundational American value, which was rooted in the belief that hard work, resourcefulness, and disciplined household management were the keys to prosperity.
Families would have collapsed without all the unpaid and so e minimal paid women's work. I remember reading it maybe watching Little House in the Prairie and the few pennies for eggs was used to buy flour or other necessities.
ReplyDeleteThat is so true, Sam. And I remember those scenes from Little house too.
DeleteI know my skills kept my family afloat.
ReplyDeleteThey they sure did, Kim. You have a great set of skills!
DeleteMy grandmother worked in the second WW, the women were a great asset to the cause. I've always been frugal when it comes to saving things, "I might need it later", mentality, I can thank my grandmother for that :)
ReplyDeleteJo
My grandmother was the same way, Jo. They sure were a treasure.
DeleteWomen have always been an essential part of the home. They have kept things together. If we look at the Proverbs 31 - it has always been, and I believe that it was admiral and noble calling. A woman even today should never be put down for JUST being a wife and mother. I worked for many years, but my best work was at home and being a care giver and a homemaker.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Cheryl. Women have always been an essential part of the home. Like you, Some of my best work has been done in our home.
DeleteWhile I did work out of the house once the children were older, I still saved and lived a frugal thrifty life. Doing so enabled us to pay off the mortgage years in advance, and get savings for our retirement.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
That is wonderful, Jackie.
DeleteThat was interesting. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou’re welcome, Wendi.
DeleteI wish I could be more self-sufficient!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean!
DeleteI love this post!! Truly a thought worth considering!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Penny.
DeleteI love this post, and reading the comments. This gives me much inspiration. Thank You.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 😊
DeleteContributions come in many forms, and I've seen families make it work in a lot of different ways. My dad's mom was the handiest woman i've ever seen, and I think of her often when I'm attempting something new & out of my comfort zone, particularly house related.
ReplyDeleteI think we're also heavily influenced by our parents. My mom stayed at home for the first few years, and then went on to work as an aide at a school for the rest of her career. She always really regretted not having a college degree, because she could have been doing similar work for significantly more money. But, going to college was very unusual for a woman, where she grew up. So, college was very much on my radar as a young teen. From there, it led to jobs, careers, etc & where I am now. Even when I was in high school, very few kids went to college, although the split between girls & boys was probably pretty even. Not that college is the only way to work, of course. - Hawaii Planner