Sexuality In The Victorian Era

As women and men of the upper class became more and more “refined,” abstinence became the model for good breeding. However, the abstinence trend yielded serious consequences. The upper class began to look as though it would die out, and leave the lower classes to take over society. This was another fear, which set in later in the Victorian Era, which was illustrated in literature.

Unlike sex, the history of sexuality is dependant upon society and limited by its language in order to be defined and understood.

The Victorian Era women was vastly different than the female we think of nowadays. Women during that time were expected to fulfill more of a domestic and motherly role, one that stayed at home and took care of the house. They were confined within the private sphere of the world while the men toiled away in the public sphere. The ideal Victorian women was described as:

There are many different reasons why women got married in the Victorian era. First and foremost was due to the lack of education. Women were usually uneducated or were taught only basic responsibilities. If a woman had too much education, Victorians thought that it would weaken their womb and deform their bodies (Moore). From early childhood, girls were taught that they should get married and have children when they get older (Hamilton). The little education that women got was received mostly at home. There were some boarding schools, but there was no university for women to attend. The studies that a girl would learn were French, drawing, dancing, music, and how to use globes. If the boarding school was interested in teaching any practical skills, girls would learn plain sewing as well as embroidery, and accounts. Through knowledge and education a woman could have had a better sense of self-worth and pride. On the contrary, boys were well educated at home by a tutor until they were old enough to attend public

“These scholars note that Victorians often bowed to conformity, concealing their true natures and tastes and pretending to adhere to social norms. Some Victorians passed themselves off as more pious or moral than they really were. But in reality, pornographic literature and prostitution were common phenomena during the late nineteenth century, showing that some Victorians only pretended to lead chaste lives.”(Joyce Moss)

The article, The Cult of Womanhood: 1820 - 1860 written by Barbara Welter discusses the philosophy towards women in America during the mid 19th century. A set of demands and expectations based upon four principles: piety, purity, submission and domesticity were placed on women as well as certain behavioral expectations left 19th century women feeling guilty. It also left women feeling this way during the industrialization period as well as having a huge presence of incompatibility with society. Welter shares her viewpoint that the Cult of Womanhood was an attempt to preserve pre modern values in the industrial age. Men held a dominant place in society and continued to prevent new opportunities for women to explore. Narrow minded

Purity was no less important than piety. Women were warned men would try to steal their purity, but they must be strong and resist the temptation. Thomas Branagan threatened women a horrible fate if they did not remain pure in the 1808 publication, The Excellency of the Female Character Vindicated, “You will be left in silent sadness to bewail your credulity, imbecility, duplicity, and premature prostitution” (Welter 103). Women of the Nineteenth Century were taught to believe the contradiction that purity before marriage brought happiness, until it was time to be married and all innocence is lost. Without proper preparation to deal with the moral dilemma women were expected to deal with this severe change in their lives without questions (Welter 104).

Society believed women inferior to men. They were considered property of their fathers until marriage and once married, all her personal possessions became her husband. Women often married young to men significantly older then themselves and bore children very soon after marriage. Carol Berkin explains in her book “First Generations:

Social standing, and moral values were vital elements in Victorian society, and the fundamental doctrine of establishing this ideology, began at home. The home provided a refuge from the rigour, uncertainty, anxiety, and potential violence of the outside world. (P, 341) A woman’s role was to provide a safe, stable, and well-organised environment for their husbands and families. However, change was on the horizon with an underlying movement of business and domestic changes both home and abroad, with industrialization, and the suffragist movement. Women were beginning to gain autonomy and began to grasp their opportunities, thus significantly curtailing male supremacy and the definable acceptable ‘role’ of the woman.

The citizens of Britain were very conservative and wanted to stay morally proper. There were older women, known as morality patrols, that would go around and try to break up sex parties. The older generation tried to keep their lifestyle and try to control the outbreak of sexual freedom. It was considered bad to be homosexual or talk about sex in any way because it was thought to be too personal and should stay private. The British also had a culture of scarcity where it was looked down upon to show off or flaunt what you have.

This has changed significantly since the 19th century. Sex, amongst others, is no longer taboo to women and it has become a much more liberated subject. It is encouraged and accepted in today's society that a woman enjoys sexual pleasures outside the restraints of only pregnancy, even marriage.

In this century, the 3 categories of classes couldn’t be more different and separated. The upper class enjoyed leisure, operas, balls and everything what had to do something with luxury and what none of the lower classes could afford. Aristocracy was well known by their morals and etiquette in the Victorian ages. The Victorian Aristocratic views on morals were extinguished which was even prudish. Prudery went as far as sexuality was a taboo, human body must have been covered and talking about body was inappropriate. In the Victorian Era society started to have different values in morality. Upper class people had low tolerance for sexuality and crimes, and isolated from any of the lower class members. Thus sexuality, especially prostitution was not acceptable and eminently discriminates in the Victorian high society.

Surprise! Women have sexual desires just like men do. Roles set for women in the 18th century demonstrated the constrictions women endured. The idea of sex, status, and character to a woman depended on what men thought of them. However Eliza Haywood’s Fantomina demonstrates what occurs when the gender power roles are reversed and women are the dominant gender.

In the Victorian era, women were expected to fulfill specific gender roles. Women possessed feminine qualities such as being nurturing, pure and docile, while men were expected to be bold and independent.

Since the moment that they were born they were taught and raised to become the perfect housewife for their future husbands. In the Victorian era it was very common for the weddings to take place in the month of June because it represented the Roman goddess Juno and it was said that if they got married in that month the goddess was going to bring prosperity and joy the couple. It took quite the preparation for mothers to prepare their daughters for their marriage, there were a lot of rules that needed to be followed. Image was very important for the young ladies so they were never left alone with a boy they were always accompanied by an elder and it was important for the girl to ask permission if she could go out with the boy. A behavior of a young girl said a lot on how she was raised so flirting was very limited for them and it was due to for them not to have any misconception on the girls attitude. Courtship came at first at the chain , it would first start will small talks between the girl and the boy and it would lead to them taking a walk to talk things out. It was very typical for the couple to be on the same economic class otherwise it would have been very odd to see the couple coming from different social