Things you could do if you lived a really long time

[Serafina]

My OP for possible NaNo was born in 1629 (in England) and is still living today. Doesn't really age so being too old to do something isn't a problem. (And no, she's not a vampire).

I currently have her living in France for a bit of the 18th century (1700s), marrying/being mistress to a rich old man in the 19th century, being a nurse in WW1, a teacher in USA in 1930s and a librarian at a university today. I don't necessarily want her to be at the centre of world events at each point, but am just looking for ideas for what a woman (who doesn't become literate until 1680s) could do in any part of the time period from 1629 to today.

Simply put - professions for women from 1629 to today.

Thanks

[AXJ]

Probably a little too out there for your story, but there were actually a number of female spies in WW2, since beautiful women can get close to powerful men with less scrutiny.

Mostly focusing on old ones, since the options are much more wide open today:

- seamstress
- housekeeper
- nun
- governess
- musician/vocalist
- actress
- tutor
- prostitute
- laundrywoman
- cook
- author
- proofreader
- copyist
- secretary

[Lord of Fools]

There's always the brain-numbing drudgery of servitude or factory work, depending on how old she looks. Or helping out labour unionists because they're not getting paid. Ahh, but you asked for 'professions', silly me. Well, in Britain there were female politicians from... maybe the 1890s. Funny how they didn't get the vote there till 1930 or something ridiculous. (Suffrage isn't my area)

[KeinesV]

Whatever she damn well pleases, and if any man says anything to the contrary, they'll get an immortal foot up their ass!