Ouvrière

Ouvrière is a French feminine noun meaning a female worker. It is the feminine form of ouvrier, the masculine term for a worker, and designates a woman engaged in manual, industrial, or service labor. The word is commonly used in historical and sociological contexts to reference women who formed a significant part of the industrial workforce, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, and to discuss labor conditions, gender roles, and workers’ movements.

In modern usage, the term is less common as a general label, with more neutral alternatives such as employée, salariée, or femme qui travaille often preferred depending on context. Nonetheless, ouvrière remains standard in historical writing and in discussions of the female component of the classe ouvrière. The expression can be found in phrases like ouvrières qualifiées or ouvrières non qualifiées to indicate skill level.

The concept also intersects with broader discussions on gender and work, including the feminization of certain trades, wage disparities, and the representation of women workers in literature and media. As a gendered occupational noun, ouvrière reflects how French forms differentiate professional titles by gender, while many contemporary contexts increasingly favor gender-neutral language where appropriate.