Is there evidence that scrubbing floors on one's hands and knees was a commonplace drudgery for women in the past?

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From Maid-of-all-work:

Historically many maids suffered from Prepatellar bursitis, an inflammation of the Prepatellar bursa caused by long periods spent on the knees for purposes of scrubbing and fire-lighting, leading to the condition attracting the colloquial name of "Housemaid's Knee".

It was a common condition caused by the hard physical labor required to maintain a home in that era. If you have an opportunity, watch the BBC reality TV show 1900 House and that will give you some idea of the struggles faced by women working in a home during that time.

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