First-Person Stories About Women Enduring Poverty and Domestic Labor in the Past

I recently came across a TikTok story told in parts about a woman born in the 1800s who described being sold as a child to a stranger and forced into years of hard domestic labor. I found the story really compelling, but it seems like it was AI 🙁

Now I’m looking for books written in first person (or closely following one woman’s perspective) that explore similar themes. I’m especially interested in stories about women in the past who endured difficult or exploitative circumstances and managed to survive or improve their situation through their own intelligence and resilience.

It doesn’t have to be nonfiction, but I’d prefer something that feels realistic and grounded.

What really interests me is:

• Detailed depictions of everyday life (cooking, cleaning, household work, etc.)
• Historical context around poverty, gender roles, and limited opportunities
• Personal experiences of hardship, labor, and survival
• A strong sense of what daily life actually felt like for women in those situations

It doesn’t need to match the exact premise of the story I mentioned, just something with a similar tone and focus on lived experience.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!