Until fairly recently, the writing of history was directed above all else to the biographies of kings, aristocrats and rich citizens. It dealt with military campaigns and extraordinary events. The life of the ordinary people was not regarded as a suitable subject. Investigation into the past days of rural life was directed almost exclusively to the way of life of rich landowners.

Interest in everyday life has developed only slowly in the last few decades, and today it has become one of the most important topics of Swiss social history in the Open-Air Museum Ballenberg. Rural everyday life in general, and the history of women in particular, are the central points on which we concentrate.