Final answer:
In the 19th century, factories hired more women and children primarily due to the economic benefits of lower wages rather than to improve family incomes or because men had left cities. As mechanization increased and societal norms and labor laws evolved, the prevalence of women and children in factory work declined.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1800s, factories hired more women and children because it provided a way for owners to pay lower wages, not because they sought to help families or because men left the cities. Women and children were seen as a source of inexpensive labor. The hiring practices were rooted in financial necessity and efficiency rather than a bid to uplift the living standards of families.
While men still featured prominently in urban factory work, their roles shifted towards sectors where mechanization required less physical strength than before. Yet, as the century closed, there was a decline in the number of women and children working in factories as societal norms, and labor laws began to change. This change partly aligned with the aspirations of working-class men to keep their wives at home and stemmed from the continued mechanization of factory work.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, industrial technology had improved living standards for many, but the exploitation in factories was prevalent. The Industrial Revolution saw a significant increase in the number of female and child workers, with the presence in textiles and garment industries being particularly high. However, this workforce was not seen as a step towards empowerment; instead, it was a hardship stemming from economic necessity. Over time, legislation and social reforms began to address these exploitative practices, leading to a reduction in the use of child and women labor in factories.