Ale, Beer, And Brewsters In England: An Analysis

Alcoholic beverages are a staple in many people’s diets. Throughout human history people have drank for different reasons. Judith Bennett tells the story of the English brewing industry in Ale, Beer, and Brewsters in England. In her book, Bennett argues that women’s work in brewing changed during the period of 1300 to 1600 as males gradually took over the production, but the low status interpretation of “women’s work” continued throughout this period up until the present.1 The perception and realities of the work of women experienced a major shift between 1300 to 1600. Bennett defines the notion of “women’s work” as “low skilled, low status, and poorly remunerated,” which continues to this present day.2 With this status, one could see how
Brewing was starting to become more professionalized as gilds began to be formed, which would cause wives to be cast to the side as their husbands began to take over.9 These were the beginnings of male domination of the brewing industry. It started in London, when in 1406 the city allowed the mystery of brewers to “supervise all persons working in the ale trade—brewers, hostelers, cooks, pie bakers, and hucksters.”10 This was the beginning of professional regulation of the industry of brewing. Not long thereafter, the gild was incorporated in 1438, which partnered it with the city in “negotiating the terms of the market in ale and beer—prices, supervision, quality, measures, and the like.”11 Now the gild had the ability to set the standards of ale and beer production. For the industry, gilds had pros and cons, because they “helped to professionalize a trade, supporting those who pursued it full time” but also “undercutting those who worked on a part-time or by-industrial basis.”12 They also would create their own organizational hierarchy that generally excluded even the most successful women in brewing.13 To be a female brewer during the advent of gilds would place one at a considerable disadvantage. Most of the gilds that spawned during this period consisted of almost all male persons for membership with few females.14 Gilds attracted males into the profession of brewing. Bennett explains that “as a brewers’ gild confirmed the dignity and honor of the trade, it tended to highlight the work of men and obscure the work of women.”15 As brewing became more desirable by men, it seemed that women in the industry were increasingly becoming marginalized. The commercialization of ale, and the advent of beer would further change women’s role in the brewing