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Women Leaders in Industry in Nineteenth Century France: The Case of Amélie de Dietrich

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  • Herrade Igersheim
  • Charlotte Le Chapelain

Abstract

This article traces the history of Amelie de Dietrich’s role - from 1806 to her death in 1855 - as the head of one of the oldest family-owned businesses: the De Dietrich company. Amelie took important strategic decisions to adapt the company to the new economic opportunities in the metal sector, which arose in the first half of the nineteenth century. Her choices were decisive for the future of the company; what is more, she succeeded in restoring the familial ownership. Given the entrenched assumptions about gender roles prevalent in the early nineteenth century, how can we explain her success in meeting such difficult challenges? Relying on Amélie de Dietrich’s own unpublished correspondence, this contribution examines the factors that explain her success in imposing herself as a Maître des Forges. It thus underlines women’s role – as business leaders – during the industrialization process.

Suggested Citation

  • Herrade Igersheim & Charlotte Le Chapelain, 2019. "Women Leaders in Industry in Nineteenth Century France: The Case of Amélie de Dietrich," Working Papers of BETA 2019-35, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    • Handle: RePEc:ulp:sbbeta:2019-35
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    1. Hoffman, Philip T. & Postel-Vinay, Gilles & Rosenthal, Jean-Laurent, 1992. "Private Credit Markets in Paris, 1690–1840," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 52(2), pages 293-306, June.
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    3. Khan, B. Zorina, 2016. "Invisible Women: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Family Firms in Nineteenth-Century France," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 76(1), pages 163-195, March.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    French industrial revolution; entrepreneurship; invisible women; De Dietrich company.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N63 - Economic History - - Manufacturing and Construction - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N83 - Economic History - - Micro-Business History - - - Europe: Pre-1913

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