'Down the docks'?

[Mehrgan]

Hi all,
Would you please tell me what the above combination means in the following context?




'...the old family structure in which mums had a lot of influence and sons followed dads down the docks...'


Thanks.

 

[Rover_KE]

The sons became dock workers like their dads.

Rover

 

[Mehrgan]

Thanks for the reply. Is this job used beacause it's symbolically a male job, or just a simple example?

 

[Rover_KE]

Working at the docks would have been just about the only job young men could have got in that community.

Rover