Yes, industrialisation brought about a drastic change in the social structure. Industrialisation created many class structures with the bourgeoisie and the prominent class attaining a higher social status and the workers were largely exploited. Even though it resulted in the production of more standardised products, generation of more employment opportunities, improved the choice of buyers, created additional investment and contributed to technology improvement. But it has adversely affected the lives of small artisans by closing down the local companies. It has also contributed to widespread unemployment, uncertainty in jobs and created a huge disparity in income distribution.
Thus the commencement of industrialisation had a mixed impact with the bourgeoisie and merchants benefitting from the increased trade opportunities and the workers suffering for their survival.
But the period had resulted in the generation of many values. The main that emerged during the period are:
- It resulted in the empowerment and development of women by extending their employment opportunities.
- It gave emphasis to individualism and independence among both men and women.
- It helped in doing away with the backward thinking in the rural areas and gave them a fair share of industrialisation in the beginning stages.
