Sheep Shearing Work explores the often-overlooked history of wool production, focusing on the pivotal role of family labor in pastoral regions.
It uncovers the social, economic, and familial structures that have supported this vital agricultural activity.
The book highlights how advancements in sheep breeds, shearing technologies, and land management techniques have shaped the intensity and productivity of labor.
It also challenges idealized views of pastoral life by revealing the demanding conditions and long hours endured by family members.
The book argues that family labor, particularly the contributions of women and children, has been fundamental to successful wool harvesting.
By using sources like historical documents, agricultural censuses, and oral histories, the book traces the evolution of wool production from early agrarian societies through the 19th and 20th centuries.
It examines the social organization of wool production within pastoral families, analyzing roles, responsibilities, and the passing down of knowledge across generations.
The book progresses by first detailing the practices of sheep shearing, then examining the social organization of wool production, and finally tracing the changing nature of family labor due to technology and market pressures.
This approach offers a unique perspective, centering the experiences of pastoral families and shedding light on the often-invisible labor that sustains the global wool industry.
