Victorian Era Gender Roles

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What was the typical scenario for women in earlier centuries?

They were intellectuals and prohibited from marriage

They worked alongside their husbands and brothers in family businesses (correct)

They worked in factories and offices

They were secluded at home to manage domestic duties

What was the ideology behind the gender separation during the Victorian period?

Women were seen as passive and men were seen as active (correct)

Women were seen as physically stronger and more aggressive

Women were seen as morally inferior to men

Women were seen as intellectually superior to men

What was considered an unfeminine activity for women during the Victorian period?

Painting and music

Devoting time to intellectual pursuits (correct)

Working in factories and offices

Voting in elections

Why would a middle-class girl typically choose to become a governess?

In extreme circumstances, for lack of other options Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of coaching women in 'accomplishments'?

To help them become accomplished in domestic duties Signup and view all the answers

What was the consequence of women pursuing higher education according to some doctors?

They would become dried-up prunes Signup and view all the answers

What was the main goal of a woman's life in society during this time period?

To get married and have children Signup and view all the answers

Why were women barred from universities and professions?

Because they were considered physically weaker than men Signup and view all the answers

Why did some young men resort to using prostitutes?

Because they were unable to resist their sexual desires Signup and view all the answers

What was the consequence for a wife if she refused to have sex with her husband?

He could legally force her to have sex and beat her if she refused Signup and view all the answers

What was the typical job scenario for women who were forced to work due to family circumstances?

They would work in low-status and ill-paid jobs Signup and view all the answers

What was true about the age of marriage for girls during this time period?

They usually married in their early to mid-twenties Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of women in preparing the next generation according to the Victorian ideology?

To prepare them to continue the same way of life Signup and view all the answers

What was a consequence of a woman's husband being infected with syphilis?

She would be at risk of contracting the disease herself Signup and view all the answers

What was true about the work lives of working-class women during this time period?

They worked from around ten years old until they married, and sometimes beyond Signup and view all the answers

What was true about single women during this time period?

They were pitied and attracted social disapproval Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Men's and Women's Roles in the Victorian Era

Men's and women's roles became more defined during the Victorian period than at any other time in history.
Women worked alongside husbands and brothers in family businesses in earlier centuries, but in the 19th century, middle-class men commuted to work, leaving wives, daughters, and sisters to oversee domestic duties.
Women were seen as passive, physically weaker, and morally superior to men, making them best suited for domestic duties.

Women's Education andIntellectual Pursuits

Women were poorly educated and barred from higher education, as it was considered unfeminine and potentially damaging to their ovaries.
Instead, women were coached in 'accomplishments' like painting, music, and foreign languages.
Doctors believed that too much study could turn attractive young women into 'dried-up prunes'.

Women's Participation in Public Life

Women were excluded from public life, barred from universities, professions, and voting in elections.
If they worked due to adverse family circumstances, jobs were low status and ill paid, with governess being one of the few options.
Working-class women started work around 10, often in domestic service or factories, and continued until marriage or old age.

Marriage and Women's Destiny

Marriage and having children were seen as women's destiny, and the main goal of a woman's life.
Single women were pitied and attracted social disapproval, despite women outnumbering men by a considerable margin in 1850.
A young girl was not expected to focus on finding a husband, as being 'forward' suggested sexual appetite.
Girls usually married in their early to mid-twenties, with grooms typically five years older.

Sexual Double Standards and Prostitution

Young men often resorted to using prostitutes, leading to the spread of syphilis and other sexual diseases.
Many men unwittingly passed on infections to their wives.
In the marriage service, women promised to 'obey' their husbands, who could legally force sex and beat them if they refused.
If a woman tried to run away, the police could return her to her husband.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores the changing roles of men and women during the Victorian period, from working alongside each other to separate spheres of work and domestic duties.