Domesticity In The 19th Century
Sex & Society of Modern Europe
Thesis Subject Domesticity and it’s evolvement during the 18th and 19th century
By: Allen Karlin
The Cambridge dictionary defines domesticity as “life at home, taking care of your house and family”. Traversing this thesis we will discuss the vital role women played in modern day, 18th and 19th century Europe, and how their responsibilities and priorities changed throughout the years. This thesis argues that women’s rights, although infringed at one point in time have during the centuries evolved and gained due respect not only domestically but in society as well. We begin by depicting the everyday responsibilities of an early 18th century women, her role in the family and her rights in society. Nearing the second half of the 18th century we discuss how the upcoming of the industrial revolution and the development of modern technology further changed and influenced the day to day life of women. We then move to the mid-19th century where we witness the first Anti-slavery and temperance movements sowing the first seeds of feminism in European culture. We conclude this thesis with an interesting comparison, outlining …show more content…
and underlining the expansion and advancement of women’s rights.
The theory behind gender inequality was derived primarily from classical thought, contemporary science, medicine and Christian ideology.
It was thought that men, governing the stronger physique were more intelligent, capable, determined and the sole breadwinners of the family. On the contrary women, the weaker sex, more guided by their emotions were expected to admit to such virtues as monogamy, purity, compassion, and fervor. These differences embroidered every segment of society, determining how women should act, what they shall and shall not do, the employment they were allowed, and much more. The hierarchical structure represented by the differences between men and women set the foundation for modern gender
inequality.
The life of an early 18th century woman was not an easy one. In marriage men were not only allowed precedent over their wives yet it was expected to govern with an iron fist. This is illustrated well by the fact that all property belonged exclusively to the man (with exception to some cases of inheritance). Women were primarily responsible for the up keeping of the household and for childcare. Although employment was available for women, it was customarily of lower stature, inferiorly pay, and involved fewer skills and responsibilities than men's. Typical employment accessible to women at the time was reduced to an extension of women’s domestic responsibilities. Such jobs included various domestic services, the clothing and fabric trade, nursing, tutoring etc. In higher ranking professions, such as politics and law women possessed essentially no control and no formal influence. Nevertheless one should not magnify the discrepancies between genders since there were countless activities (both in the private and public sector) that could be engaged in by both parties.
Thesis Subject Domesticity and it’s evolvement during the 18th and 19th century
By: Allen Karlin
The Cambridge dictionary defines domesticity as “life at home, taking care of your house and family”. Traversing this thesis we will discuss the vital role women played in modern day, 18th and 19th century Europe, and how their responsibilities and priorities changed throughout the years. This thesis argues that women’s rights, although infringed at one point in time have during the centuries evolved and gained due respect not only domestically but in society as well. We begin by depicting the everyday responsibilities of an early 18th century women, her role in the family and her rights in society. Nearing the second half of the 18th century we discuss how the upcoming of the industrial revolution and the development of modern technology further changed and influenced the day to day life of women. We then move to the mid-19th century where we witness the first Anti-slavery and temperance movements sowing the first seeds of feminism in European culture. We conclude this thesis with an interesting comparison, outlining …show more content…
and underlining the expansion and advancement of women’s rights.
The theory behind gender inequality was derived primarily from classical thought, contemporary science, medicine and Christian ideology.
It was thought that men, governing the stronger physique were more intelligent, capable, determined and the sole breadwinners of the family. On the contrary women, the weaker sex, more guided by their emotions were expected to admit to such virtues as monogamy, purity, compassion, and fervor. These differences embroidered every segment of society, determining how women should act, what they shall and shall not do, the employment they were allowed, and much more. The hierarchical structure represented by the differences between men and women set the foundation for modern gender
inequality.
The life of an early 18th century woman was not an easy one. In marriage men were not only allowed precedent over their wives yet it was expected to govern with an iron fist. This is illustrated well by the fact that all property belonged exclusively to the man (with exception to some cases of inheritance). Women were primarily responsible for the up keeping of the household and for childcare. Although employment was available for women, it was customarily of lower stature, inferiorly pay, and involved fewer skills and responsibilities than men's. Typical employment accessible to women at the time was reduced to an extension of women’s domestic responsibilities. Such jobs included various domestic services, the clothing and fabric trade, nursing, tutoring etc. In higher ranking professions, such as politics and law women possessed essentially no control and no formal influence. Nevertheless one should not magnify the discrepancies between genders since there were countless activities (both in the private and public sector) that could be engaged in by both parties.