Victorian Morality v. The New Woman
For an extremely long time, American women were denied the right to vote, restricted from receiving higher education, and expected to maintain the household. Society had a particular view on the way females should go about their daily lives. It was very unusual to see women working in the professional environment alongside men or enjoying leisurely activities during the 19th century. Men were superior to women in all aspects of life and trying to diminish this title was never taken quite seriously by a majority of Americans. Ranging from factory women to middle-class women at home, they all had a traditional role to uphold and failure to comply with certain morals could result in isolation from society. The Victorian era, established in Britain during Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837-1901, was America’s inspiration for strict codes of social conduct primarily for regulating women’s behavior. These sets of moral standards restricted the female population from achieving social equality and opportunities to succeed.
With few opportunities to participate in a predominantly professional male workforce and being “barred by law and custom from entering trades and professions by which they could support themselves, and restricted in the possession of property, woman had only one means of livelihood, that of marriage” (1). Marriage was not only an expectation, but a necessity for a woman to survive during a time where gender inequality was present. They either remained at home or worked for small wages, forcing them to rely on men’s income for support. Many men believed they were superior to women and that their wives should not take part in society for reasons ranging from the lack of physical abilities to the importance of remaining at home. In 1840, a physiologist by the name of Alexander Walker stated this:
It is evident that the man, possessing reasoning faculties, muscular power, and courage to
employ it, is qualified for being a protector: the woman, being little capable of reasoning, feeble,
and timid, requires protection. Under such circumstances, the man naturally governs: the woman as naturally obeys (2).
With few opportunities to participate in a predominantly professional male workforce and being “barred by law and custom from entering trades and professions by which they could support themselves, and restricted in the possession of property, woman had only one means of livelihood, that of marriage” (1). Marriage was not only an expectation, but a necessity for a woman to survive during a time where gender inequality was present. They either remained at home or worked for small wages, forcing them to rely on men’s income for support. Many men believed they were superior to women and that their wives should not take part in society for reasons ranging from the lack of physical abilities to the importance of remaining at home. In 1840, a physiologist by the name of Alexander Walker stated this:
It is evident that the man, possessing reasoning faculties, muscular power, and courage to
employ it, is qualified for being a protector: the woman, being little capable of reasoning, feeble,
and timid, requires protection. Under such circumstances, the man naturally governs: the woman as naturally obeys (2).
Along with many other moral standards, women were expected to know how to properly maintain the home and the countless responsibilities that come along with raising a family. They needed to “love domestic life, and the care and society of the young, because it is, without doubt, the intention of Divine Providence that they should do so; and because home, and the concerns of home, afford the best opportunities and means of moral improvement” (3). The traditional idea of females being responsible for house chores was taught as early as childhood during the Victorian era in Britain, which Americans similarly followed. In the 1870s, Hannah Mitchell angrily recalled the time when “she had to darn all the stockings, including her brothers, whilst they played cards or dominoes” (4). Although boys usually did more difficult tasks, some girls did not have as much recreational time compared to the boys. A young girl by the name of Doris Francis remembered being “burdened with housework from the time she could hold a duster, having to polish all the brass doorknobs, clean all the family’s boots, shop for groceries, do the washing-up, peel all the vegetable and do all the mending including the socks” (5). Beginning at a young age, many females were taught the importance of tidying around the home and expected to perform these duties throughout their entire lives. They grew up to acknowledge their inferior role in society, yet it took years for women to finally rebel against some of society’s moral standards that did not always apply to men.
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Before the drastic lifestyle change in the 20th century, women were forced to live accordingly with the guidelines set by American society. They were expected to dress conservatively and act modestly. It was vital that females uphold characters reflecting the virtues of purity, patience, integrity, fortitude, and obedience. A writer for the Omaha Daily Bee stated that “…women must stand for conservatism, for grace, for purity, and in these three directions they must have special training. Wise conservatism must be founded on law and law must teach obedience, which lies at the root of all growth” (6). According to the statement made in this article, women could only achieve admirable qualities if they were specifically trained since their youth how to act properly in all aspects of life. One aspect that reflected a woman’s character was her fashion sense and how she followed society’s traditional guidelines for dressing. It was imperative for women to remember that “[dress should] not injure the body, corrupt the heart, debase the mind of the individual; shall not degrade society, nor work any evil influence in it, but, on the contrary shall do good both to the individual and society” (7). Besides modest taste in clothing, women were required to follow all moral standards or else severe consequences could harm them in the long run. For example, if a women ever brought a baby into the world out of wedlock, “society exploit[ed] her by barring her from decent communion with it and driving her to desperation in her unnatural, shameful exile” (8).
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During the 19th and 20th century, women constantly lived in the presence of critics and their advice on how to properly act and dress. Their rank in society was found in the home to raise children and complete chores all day. They did not get to enjoy many of the pleasures in life because of the duties society expected them to do. An author by the name of Stewart Isham acknowledged their hardships when he noted:
It is a wonder to me the women are as decent as they are, considering the various things in this life they have to go up against. A man never
ought to blame the women too harshly, for a man has all the easy things of life and the women all the hard things to contend with (9).
Women rarely had any leisure time because of the rigorous work they had to perform throughout the day at home, work, or both. It wasn't surprising that women began to show hatred towards their role in society when they engaged in activities they never typically took part in. Frances Perkins mentioned that “employment at monotonous work for long hours results in an abnormal condition, and causes moral weakening…they are sometimes guilty of moral transgressions that they would never sanction if healthy and rested” (10). It took plenty of years for Americans to finally realize things like “fun has a definite relation to the, moral happiness and health of this country” (11). The number of women growing tired of their strict lifestyle increased and they began to change their traditional ways. With the uprising of urban cities like Chicago and New York, and the opening of more department stores, women transitioned at the turn of the 20th century. They wanted to be a part of a new culture by freeing themselves of society’s harsh moral standards. Miss Thomas noticed the movement when she stated, “It was a man’s world. The laws were men’s laws, the government a man’s government, the country a man’s country. Now women have the right to higher education and to become independent…The man’s world must become a man’s and woman’s world” (12). Finally, a new type of woman emerged choosing to wear more revealing clothing and straying away from the strict moral guidelines for everyday living. They chose to engage in more leisure activities like dancing, smoking, drinking, and dating. Compared to the women of the past, they became more independent and rebellious of the traditional standards society wanted them to live by. This extreme transition among American women created tension between members of society who were against the idea of fewer morals. However, this change in womanhood ignited the fight for social equality in the years to come.
NOTES
1. Susan Kingsley Kent, Sex and Suffrage in Britain 1860-1914, (Princeton University Press), 86
2. Joan Perkin. Victorian Women, (UK: John Murray Publishers), 1
3. William Andrus Alcott, The Young Woman’s Guide, (Boston: Charles H. Pierce)
4-6. Perkin, Victorian Women, 20
7. George Weaver Sumner. The Aims and Aids for girls and young women, on the various duties of life. (New York: Fowler and Wells), 1856, 44
8. Jane Whitaker. “Greedy Little Exploiters Begin To Take Share of Spoils of Womanhood,” The Day Book, April 26, 1916
9. Frederick Isham. “Morals of Woman are Higher,” University Missourian, November 9, 2010, 4
10-11. Frances Perkins. “Vice Is Caused By Long Hours,” The Washington Herald, April 15, 1913
12. “First Public Meeting” http://memory.loc.gov/master/rbc/rbcmil/scrp5003002/002.jpg
It is a wonder to me the women are as decent as they are, considering the various things in this life they have to go up against. A man never
ought to blame the women too harshly, for a man has all the easy things of life and the women all the hard things to contend with (9).
Women rarely had any leisure time because of the rigorous work they had to perform throughout the day at home, work, or both. It wasn't surprising that women began to show hatred towards their role in society when they engaged in activities they never typically took part in. Frances Perkins mentioned that “employment at monotonous work for long hours results in an abnormal condition, and causes moral weakening…they are sometimes guilty of moral transgressions that they would never sanction if healthy and rested” (10). It took plenty of years for Americans to finally realize things like “fun has a definite relation to the, moral happiness and health of this country” (11). The number of women growing tired of their strict lifestyle increased and they began to change their traditional ways. With the uprising of urban cities like Chicago and New York, and the opening of more department stores, women transitioned at the turn of the 20th century. They wanted to be a part of a new culture by freeing themselves of society’s harsh moral standards. Miss Thomas noticed the movement when she stated, “It was a man’s world. The laws were men’s laws, the government a man’s government, the country a man’s country. Now women have the right to higher education and to become independent…The man’s world must become a man’s and woman’s world” (12). Finally, a new type of woman emerged choosing to wear more revealing clothing and straying away from the strict moral guidelines for everyday living. They chose to engage in more leisure activities like dancing, smoking, drinking, and dating. Compared to the women of the past, they became more independent and rebellious of the traditional standards society wanted them to live by. This extreme transition among American women created tension between members of society who were against the idea of fewer morals. However, this change in womanhood ignited the fight for social equality in the years to come.
NOTES
1. Susan Kingsley Kent, Sex and Suffrage in Britain 1860-1914, (Princeton University Press), 86
2. Joan Perkin. Victorian Women, (UK: John Murray Publishers), 1
3. William Andrus Alcott, The Young Woman’s Guide, (Boston: Charles H. Pierce)
4-6. Perkin, Victorian Women, 20
7. George Weaver Sumner. The Aims and Aids for girls and young women, on the various duties of life. (New York: Fowler and Wells), 1856, 44
8. Jane Whitaker. “Greedy Little Exploiters Begin To Take Share of Spoils of Womanhood,” The Day Book, April 26, 1916
9. Frederick Isham. “Morals of Woman are Higher,” University Missourian, November 9, 2010, 4
10-11. Frances Perkins. “Vice Is Caused By Long Hours,” The Washington Herald, April 15, 1913
12. “First Public Meeting” http://memory.loc.gov/master/rbc/rbcmil/scrp5003002/002.jpg