Women Mean Business

Discover the untold stories of entrepreneurial women in New Zealand's 19th-century towns with Dr. Catherine Bishop's compelling narrative. This engaging paperback delves into the lives of fascinating businesswomen who thrived in a time when societal norms often dictated otherwise. From Kaitaia to Oban, women like milliners, dressmakers, and boarding-house keepers not only supported their families but also enriched their communities through their diverse enterprises. This book showcases a wide array of characters, from industrious educators to daring publicans, and even Australia's first woman chemist, proving that there was no 'typical' businesswoman in this era. These inspiring stories highlight the resilience and ingenuity of women who balanced personal struggles with their ambitions, acting as both partners and pioneers in their fields. Perfect for history enthusiasts and those interested in women's empowerment, this 400-page publication invites readers to explore the vibrant tapestry of 19th-century New Zealand business life. Uncover the multi-faceted roles of these trailblazing women as they navigated challenges and seized opportunities, contributing significantly to urban life. This insightful account is not just a historical narrative; it's a tribute to the women who shaped their destinies and those of their communities, making it an essential read for anyone interested in the rich history of women in business.

Author: Dr Catherine Bishop Publisher: Otago University Press
Bind: paperback
Dimensions: 170 x 240 x 20 mm
Pages: 400
Publication Date: 10-10-2019

From Kaitaia in Northland to Oban on Stewart Island, New Zealand’s nineteenth-century towns were full of entrepreneurial women. Contrary to what we might expect, colonial women were not only wives and mothers or domestic servants. A surprising number ran their own businesses, supporting themselves and their families, sometimes in productive partnership with husbands, but in other cases compensating for a spouse’s incompetence, intemperance, absence - or all three. The pages of this book overflow with the stories of hard-working milliners and dressmakers, teachers, boarding-house keepers and laundresses, colourful publicans, brothelkeepers and travelling performers, along with the odd taxidermist, bootmaker and butcher - and Australasia’s first woman chemist. Then, as now, there was no ‘typical’ businesswoman. They were middle and working class; young and old; M?ori and P?keh?; single, married, widowed and sometimes bigamists. Their businesses could be wild successes or dismal failures, lasting just a few months or a lifetime. In this fascinating and entertaining book, award-winning historian Dr Catherine Bishop showcases many of the individual businesswomen whose efforts, collectively, contributed so much to the making of urban life in New Zealand.