Charles Dickens Gender Roles Essay

Ethan Wade
01/31/2017
Molly Ingram
HIST 103: Western Civilization

In Charles Dickens’ Hard Times, the author illustrates gender relations in numerous forms. Dickens depicts the barriers between classes and, more importantly,for the purpose of this essay, the barriers between genders. Women had particular roles and social expectations, many of which are still echoed in today’s modern world.

The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century saw a huge improvement in living conditions in Great Britain. In contrast, women’s voices and rights in the early Victorian age were suppressed and married women were essentially positioned as chattel.
Working class women were trapped in an endless cycle of servitude. Women often lived in the shadow of men
Cecilia Jupe also know as Sissy shows Louisa the way to escape the cruel cycle of the era by counterbalancing the industrial revolution with femininity. Charles Dickens uses Sissy as a symbol of a classical woman and a revolutionist. She overcomes these gender restrictions by stepping outside the world of facts. She shows that life does not just need to be a following, she shows life as an innocent curious woman who can escape Victorian life. Sissy refers to herself as “just a poor girl” (103) even though she lives her own life, not as an industrial worker, but as a feminist who is gentle, kind, and does not feel the need to be intellectually smart in
Even during times where that may seem impossible the possible always prevails. Charles Dickens’ writing and social levels he portrays still are relevant today. The Victorian era was a very backwards society that took away man rights of the other gender. Even though the man was seen as the building block and initiator of the industrial revolution women were able to step in front and overcome the restrictions of being a women. Sissy is the symbol of women and the newfound freedom achieved during this time, she is able to help Louisa to achieve the same goal by standing up and defying social