Victorian Era
Essay by Zomby • March 27, 2012 • Essay • 461 Words (2 Pages) • 2,025 Views
Women rights back in Victorian era was very different from what they are today. Women couldn't be able to do the things we are able to do . As in example , " Women occupied a separate sphere, away from the bustling outside world. Once a women is married it was understood that she would devote herself full time to her husband and children." Meaning that women had to put all the effort in their family , than worrying about themselves and what they needed to get done for them. The legal rights of married women were similar to those of children. They could not vote or sue or even own their own property. Throughout the years laws changed and women had more rights during their marriage.
In 1839, a law passes which stated that id a marriage broke down and the parents separated children under seven years of age should stay with their mother.
In 1857, women could divorce husbands who were cruel to them or the husband who left them.
In 1870, women were allowed to keep the money they had earn.
Women's rights change in long periods of times , but the more they changed the better it got , because at first they weren't able to do anything except be house wives.
"In the Victorian Era, most women were house wives. These women stayed at home and tended to the house and family, but there were a small percentage of women that had other occupations. About 3% of all white women during the Victorian era and 25% of all black women were part of the working force and worked for wages. Most of these women were either a maid, nurse, laundress, teacher, psychiatrist, or social worker. Since there were so few women who worked at these jobs, only 9 out of every 10 homes had domestic help (maid, nurse, or laundress). Besides these jobs there is also another way that some wives stayed at home and earned money. This was by farming; some farm wives earned money from selling butter, milk, and other farm products that they produced on their farm."
"Most women traveled with their husbands and family to specific locations. The men of the Victorian Era believed that a women's place was at home. They also thought that it was completely useless and they should just stay at home and tend to the house. It was very expensive so only wealthy women could afford these adventures, but most of the time wealthy women's apparel stopped them. They wore corsets, high heeled shoes, long skirts, and other heavy clothing. When it came to the daring women, their motive was usually to escape gender discrimination, to explore other territories, or to further a certain cause."
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