2. Quick QuizQuick Quiz
• 1) Make a T-chart distinguishing1) Make a T-chart distinguishing
“traditional” male/female roles,“traditional” male/female roles,
stereotypes, etc.stereotypes, etc.
• 2) What does respectability mean to you?2) What does respectability mean to you?
• 3) Discuss either Mill’s argument or that of3) Discuss either Mill’s argument or that of
the Goncourt Brothers.the Goncourt Brothers.
3. TerminologyTerminology
• Gender: Relationship between the sexesGender: Relationship between the sexes
• Masculinity: Male identity or identity givenMasculinity: Male identity or identity given
to malesto males
• Femininity: female identity or identityFemininity: female identity or identity
associated with femalesassociated with females
• Victorian Britain: Britain ~1830-1900Victorian Britain: Britain ~1830-1900
4. Middle Class IdentityMiddle Class Identity
• The middle class hasThe middle class has
to forge its ownto forge its own
identityidentity
• Tenets:Tenets:
• Anti-nobilityAnti-nobility
• Liberal (though notLiberal (though not
radical)radical)
• Social improvementSocial improvement
• Arbiters ofArbiters of
respectability andrespectability and
societysociety
5. RespectabilityRespectability
• De facto goal ofDe facto goal of
middle class familiesmiddle class families
1830-19001830-1900
• How to achieveHow to achieve
– Everyone play byEveryone play by
societal rulessocietal rules
– Be wise with moneyBe wise with money
– Protect womenProtect women
6. MaleMale
• Role: Bread winnerRole: Bread winner
• Occupation: WhiteOccupation: White
color professionalcolor professional
• Education: liberal artsEducation: liberal arts
• Disposition: RationalDisposition: Rational
• Intelligence: highIntelligence: high
• Sexuality: active, butSexuality: active, but
abstinentabstinent
• Constitution: HaleConstitution: Hale
7. FemaleFemale
• Role: Supporter inRole: Supporter in
ChiefChief
• Occupation: head ofOccupation: head of
the household;the household;
nurturer; mothernurturer; mother
• Education: LittleEducation: Little
outside of the homeoutside of the home
• Disposition: irrationalDisposition: irrational
• Intelligence: child-likeIntelligence: child-like
• Sexuality: passive butSexuality: passive but
abstinentabstinent
• Constitution: delicateConstitution: delicate
8. Family TiesFamily Ties
• Seen as basic social unitSeen as basic social unit
• Family Size decreasesFamily Size decreases
from 1830-1900from 1830-1900
• Marriage = chasteMarriage = chaste
• Children = respectful,Children = respectful,
should be educatedshould be educated
according to sexaccording to sex
• Industrialization/Industrialization/
Urbanization on theUrbanization on the
familyfamily
9. Working class WomenWorking class Women
• Many work as domestics,Many work as domestics,
others in factoriesothers in factories
• Factory workersFactory workers
“castrated” working class“castrated” working class
menmen
– Wear pantsWear pants
– Earn wageEarn wage
• SexuallySexually
vulnerable/promiscuousvulnerable/promiscuous
• Cannot be good mothersCannot be good mothers
10. Mother/La ParisienneMother/La Parisienne
• Mother: idealized roleMother: idealized role
of middle classof middle class
woman : nurturerwoman : nurturer
• La ParisienneLa Parisienne
• Conception of uberConception of uber
sexual women of Paris/sexual women of Paris/
large citylarge city
• Generally working classGenerally working class
• Used as a opposite ofUsed as a opposite of
the idea womanthe idea woman
11. City’s effect on WomenCity’s effect on Women
• City is a corruptingCity is a corrupting
influenceinfluence
• Lack of moralsLack of morals
• Need to workNeed to work
• Rural/UrbanRural/Urban
– Russian Syphilis issueRussian Syphilis issue
– Community vsCommunity vs
individualityindividuality
12. Working Middle Class WomenWorking Middle Class Women
• EducatorsEducators
• NanniesNannies
• GovernessesGovernesses
• All require certain levelAll require certain level
of education, all inof education, all in
gender role, none paidgender role, none paid
well, and can lead towell, and can lead to
not getting married.not getting married.
13. Women expand their RolesWomen expand their Roles
• As centuryAs century
Progresses, womenProgresses, women
attempt to stretchattempt to stretch
gender linesgender lines
– EvangelizationEvangelization
– Public WorkPublic Work
– Outreach to the poorOutreach to the poor
and colonialand colonial
– Votes for women!Votes for women!
• Note all are public,Note all are public,
but all but last are inbut all but last are in
role as nurturerrole as nurturer
14. Gender Within a CulturalGender Within a Cultural
FrameworkFramework
• Throughout Europe,Throughout Europe,
those seen as notthose seen as not
socially equal aresocially equal are
gendered Femininegendered Feminine
– Lower classesLower classes
– Upper classesUpper classes
– Colonial nativesColonial natives
