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"The great end and aim of almost every young female
is to be united in marriage to a deserving man."
-The Young Lady's Book of Advice and Instruction, 1859
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Women in the Victorian Era
Women in the victorian era were seen as pure, prim, and proper. Their bodies were seen as very delicate, and they didn't wear jewlery and never exposed themselves. The womens main role was to tend the children and house. In the rare case that a woman had a job, it would only be as a teacher or a domesticated servant.
Getting Married
One of the main "purposes" of women in the Victorian age was to get married. A good wife needed, "religion, industry, and chastity." One of the things that a man searching for a bride, a great importance was inheritance, and they hardly cared about looks and beauty. A womans sexuality was in no way flaunted, and was only used for the purpose of reproduction.
Education
Woman were educated in main subjects like history, geography, writing and reading
They didn't learn latin or greek, or anything of the arts. Towards the end of
the era, women started to expand and explore the arts as
womens rights became more popular.
Divorce
In the victorian era, divorce laws started to become fairer.
Women could sometimes gain custody,
but only if the male had extreme reasons not to have custody.
Laws were also made that if a woman was widowed, she could be the only guardian of the child.
A few different acts:
1857- Matrimonial Causes Act: This act made it so that women had access to divorce, although very limited. For men
to get divorce, then only had to prove adultery; but in a womens position they had to prove adultery, incest,
bigamy, cruelty, or desertion.In 1878 an amendment to the act made it so that women could
acuse men of abuse or other negative impacts on children and gain full custody.
1873- Custody of Infants Act: made more opertunities for women to gain extended access to children
in a divorce.
1884- Married Womens Property Act- This act made it so that women were seen as
and independent, single person, not owned by her husband.
1886-Guardianship of Infants Act- If a women was widowed, she could gain full
custody of the children.
Religion
Women started to expand and explore many different kinds of education during this era.
One religion was Quaker. Quake religion practiced silent worship and plain life. Another religion was the evangeliclal religion. In this religion
Many women were found to preach, and very often. Women
started to play more effective and important roles
in the church during the Victorian Era.
Politics
The victorian era was when the fight for a womans right to vote began.
Barbara Bodichan was one of the first woman activists. Many groups were formed where
women joined together and sometimes led to rioting, smashing windows, and other violent acts
in order to voice their opinion about being rejected, or turned down from rights
or propositions. One of these groups was called "The Womens Social and Political Union."
Womens Classes in The Victorian Era
| Upper Class |
MIddle Class |
Lower Class |
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- spent her time reading, sewing, recieving guests, letter writing, helping servants.
-Women were dressed to show off wealth. The wealthier the family; the nicer clothes.
-Women would go out to parties with many couples, and host a few of her own as a past time.
-A women would wear up to six different outfits a day.
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-Middle class women were used as a helping force to the upper class. They would get jobs such as gardeners, cooks, nurses, babysitters, etc.
-Middle class women would have one or two servents for their household; but nothing compared to the many that the upper class women would have.
-A middle class young women's goal was to marry into a wealthy family.
Towards the end of the era, when womens rights were perking up, more women started to be less dress categorized by their class, and these "middle class women" would wear tailor made suits, and care for themselves because they were now seen as independent.
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-Second, and even fifth and sixth hand clothes were worn.
-Servents ate left over food from masters.
-Ate rotten food, old bacon, cheese, and porridge.
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Famous Victorian Women
Queen Victoria- 
Alexandra Victoria was born in London in the Kensington Palace on May 24, 1819. Her father Edward was the Duke of Kent and her mother Victoria Maria Louisa of Saxe-Coburg. Shortly after her birth Alexandra’s father died from pneumonia when Alexandra was only eight months old. Edward had three brothers, George IV, Frederick Duke of York, and William IV. After William IV died in 1837 Alexandra became Queen of England at the age of 18. Early on in Victoria’s reign she met a man named Lord Melbourne(William Lamb), the Prime Minister of Great Britain. Victoria and Melbourne became close friends. Melbourne was Victoria’s secretary and political tutor. With the help of Lord Melbourne Victoria found her way in British politics and acquired an early preference for Whig ministries. In 1840 Queen Victoria married her first cousin, Prince Albert. Between 1840 and 1857 Victoria gave birth to nine children. When Albert died of typhoid fever on December 14, 1861 Victoria was devastated. Victoria wore black for the remainder of her life. Some say she was never the same person after he died. On January 22, 1901 Queen Victoria died at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight at the age of 82. Queen Victoria was the longest reigning British monarch in history.
Mary Seacole- 
Mary Jane Grant was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1805. Her father was a Scottish soldier and her mother ran a boarding house for injured soldiers where Mary learned nursing and business skills from her mother. When Mary was a young woman she traveled around to the Caribbeans and Central America where she ran taverns and boarding houses and learned more and more about medicines. In 1836 Mary traveled to London and married Edwin Seacole. Sadly, Edward died only eight years later and Mary's mother followed shortly after. In 1854 Mary made her second visit to London after hearing that there was a shortage of nurses in Crimea. Mary offered her services to nurses established by Florence Nightingale two times, but was refused due to her race. After being rejected, Mary set up the British Hotel with her own money. The British Hotel provided accommodation, comfort, and food for injured, sick, and recovering soldiers, but because of a lack of money Mary could only afford to treat soldiers who could pay. Mary was also active on the battlefield running a small pharmacy, selling medicine, and giving medical advice to soldiers. After the war ended in 1856, Mary returned home. A militray festival was going to take place to honor Mary. Mary was awarded the Crimean Medal, the French Legion of Honor, and a Turkish Medal. In 1857 Seacole published an autobiography called the " Wonderful Adventres of Mrs. Seacole in Many Land " , which became a best seller and spread her fame thorughout the world. On May 14, 1881 Mary died at the age of 76 in her home in Paddington, London.
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson- 
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was born in Whitechapel, London in 1836. She was the daughter of Newson Garrett and Louise Dunnel. Elizabeth was one of 12 children. When Elizabeth was young her father ran a pawnbrokers shop in England, but in 1841 Newson Garrett purchased a corn and coal warehouse in Aldeburgh. The business was a great a success. Elizabeth was sent to boarding school. After she graduated, while searching for a husband, she stayed with a family friend. While staying with them, she met Elizabeth Blackwell, the first successful woman doctor in the United States. In meeting her she was inspired to pursue a career in medicine herself, and become Britain's first woman doctor. She was eventually supported by her father, but no medical schools would accept her as a student. She became a nurse at Middlesex Hospital, and tried to attend male student lectures that were held there, but was soon banned from the lecture halls. After researching, she discovered that the Society of Apothecaries had no bans on genders. She took the Societies exam, and was granted a certificate that let her become a doctor. The society changed their rules and regulations so that other women could have the same opportunities as a result. In 1866 Elizabeth established a dispensary for women in London and four years later was appointed a visiting physician to the East London Hospital. Elizabeth was determined to obtain a medical degree, so she learned how to speak French and attended the university of Paris where she passed all the required exams. In 1871 Elizabeth married James Anderson, a successful businessman. James and Elizabeth had three children together. The following year Elizabeth opened the New Hospital for Women in London (Later named Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital). The whole staff was made up of women. Elizabeth also joined with Sophia Jex-Blake to establish a London Medical School for Women. In 1883, Elizabeth was elected Dean of the London School of Medicine. In 1902, Elizabeth retired from her career in medicine but continued her interest in politics. In 1908, Elizabeth was elected the first mayor of Aldeburg. Elizabeth was the first female mayor in London. In 1917 Elizabeth Garrett Anderson died at the age of 81.
Works Consulted
| NA |
"The Royal Collection" |
Kings and Queens of the United Kingdom |
2006 |
NA |
2/27 |
www.royal.gov.uk |
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