Final answer:
During the Victorian era, children did have jobs and worked in factories, performing tasks such as cleaning machines and working in mines and the textile industry. However, laws were eventually passed to regulate child labor and ensure a safer workplace, leading to a decline in the presence of women and children in the workforce.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Victorian era, children did have jobs and worked in factories. By 1900, around 18% of children under the age of 16 were employed in industrial work. They were assigned tasks such as cleaning dangerous machines, working in coal mines, and working in the textile industry. These children were often paid lower wages and their roles were easily replaceable.
Factories and mines hired young workers for various tasks, and children were useful for fixing machinery and fitting into small spaces. Families in mill towns often depended on the labor of their children to earn enough money for necessities. However, as the Industrial Revolution progressed, laws were passed to regulate child labor and ensure a safer workplace. The presence of women and children in the workforce declined by the end of the 19th century due to increasing mechanization and the push for compulsory education.