Women in Victorian Britain.

Upper and Middle Class Women. Their clothes tell us about their role. 1860s1880s 1900

They were expected to look their best and entertain their men folk. Education was limited to “accomplishments” such as music, dance, and needlework

At home they often led a life of leisure. Domestic duties included rearing children and managing the servants.

Their social life revolved around accompanying their husbands to races and

balls.

Going to the seaside.

Shopping.

Their primary duties were as wives and mothers.

No respectable young lady would go out without a chaperone.

Some women tried to change this. They tried to get schools for girls and even go to university.. They wanted higher paid jobs e.g. medicine, education and the legal profession. They wanted equal rights.

Many women’s rights had been obtained by If parents separated children under 7 should stay with their mother Wives could divorce husbands who were cruel or left them Wives were allowed to keep money they earned Wives could not be forced to live with husbands unless they wished.

The first school for girls was set up by Frances Buss in1850. The North London Collegiate School.

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson became first woman doctor in1870.

Some educated women obtained jobs as school teachers or

as governesses.

Working class women. They often had to work. Jobs included street sellers, seamstresses,

Sweatshop workers,

and pit wenches.

After work there were many more domestic chores such as washing clothes by hand.

Many working class girls went into service (maids). Here you were at least given food, a bed, a uniform and regular wages.

However you were on call at all hours of the day or night. Maids rarely saw their families.

Working class girls were expected to do many chores to help their mothers. Boys were allowed out alone.

In Lancashire and Yorkshire many girls went to work in cotton or woollen mills.

Mill girls.

Women who worked were paid much less than men. In 1888 Annie Besant led a strike of match girls for more pay.

By 1900 women had started to campaign for the right to vote.

From 1903 to 1914 the Suffragettes showed that women would resort to extreme tactics to get what they wanted.