Studia Historica: Historia Contemporánea (Jun 2017)
The social mentality of the Biscay workers at the beginning of industrialization. Working-class stereotypes and imaginaries
Abstract
This article analyses the values and priorities of the Biscay workers in the late xix century through a documentary source made up of letters written by labourers between 1895 and 1898, while / when they were fighting in Cuba and Philipines. These letters show the social concepts used by them and their mentality towards different social spheres, as well as the presence of patriotism, religion and solidarity-based principles.It also studies the main stereotypes spread about the working-class, basically the socialist stereotype, the Christian and the collaborator with the trade association.The contrast between these stereotypes and the workers’ mentality is very sharp, as we can deduce from the primary source. Regarding their beliefs, the absence of religious or social-related values must be emphasized, as well as the priority of the family, which define the social sphere where they feel to belong.
