Book excerpt: This book, the first of its kind, will be of interest across several disciplines including economics, economic history, business history, British history and women/gender history The fact that the essays reach beyond Britain and include work on Germany, Australia, Italy, Canada, Sweden and the West Indies will stimulate interest throughout (and even beyond) the English speaking world There is a growing interest in the study of women’s economic activity, which reflects the recognition that economics and economic/business history are not gender neutral subjects