Paper short abstract:

The paper traces the discrepancy between women workers in tobacco and fish processing industries at the beginning of 20 st century pointing to the fact that different industries generate separate identities within the general frame of the working class.

Paper long abstract:

From the mid 19th century, Rovinj, a small coastal town, saw the establishment of many industrial plants. The Tobacco Factory in Rovinj was opened in 1872 representing a significant turning point in the industrial and socio-cultural history of Rovinj. The only industry that was comparable in numbers was the fish processing factory. Both factories were employing mostly women but their statuses were drastically different. While Tabacheine, as interviewees state, were nicely dressed, enjoyed prestige and "smelled of tobacco", the workers of the Mirna fish factory earned wages which were much smaller and dependent on the fish catch and "reeked of fish" but what is crucial for this paper they were newcomers mostly of Croatian origin from various parts of Istria.

The paper traces the discrepancy between women workers in mentioned industries pointing to the fact that different industries generate separate identities and classes within the general frame of the working class.