Feminism, gender ideology and education in the Victorian era

•In the Victorian period the status of women was not seen as important but the ideal woman was expected to be modest, pure and refined. Lockwood : “fascinating creature”.

•Women had no form of equality with men and were seen as the weaker gender.

•Women were only allowed to have sex with one man which was their husband and divorce was never an option, whereas, men where allowed multiple partners in their lifetime.

•Literature was a way for women to break away from the typical standards and outlooks they were expected to maintain. Writing allowed a lot of woman to be empowered and strengthen there voice.

•Women would be faced with fear and embarrassment when exploring there sexuality or confessing there sexual desires.

•Literature and the expression of feminism  in writing helped immensely in the movement to greater equality for women.

•In 19th century British society was indulged in the unexplainable power and privilege for men with woman starting to test their strengths and think about the idea of gender equality.

•This period saw a transition in the idea of the traditional male superiority.

•By the end of the 19th century women had started to gain more opportunities in certain work forces.

•Woman were not often given the opportunity for higher education in university which made it much more difficult to be independent and stray from societies stereotypes and restrains.

•A women's place was at home either cleaning, looking after her children or cooking in the kitchen. So many women were not encouraged to aspire to further education as it could jeopardise the future society had already planned for them.

•At a younger age richer families would have had their daughters home schooled whereas some children would have gotten there education based in churches .