Women in the 1800s
In the 19th century, women were expected to endure physical discomfort and pain to fit the mold of the perfect woman. They were pressured by popular literature and magazines to devote all of their time and energy to keeping a clean house and were looked down upon if even one item was out of place. In addition, they were expected to wear corsets, which were uncomfortable and harmful to their health. The link below takes you to a website that describes the daily roles of 19th century women in their households.
This image shows how much corsets brought in women's waists. They affected both the exterior and interior of women's bodies, causing broken ribs, damage to internal organs, and infertility, among other physical injuries.
In the 1800s, women were thought to be weak, unintelligent, and overall inferior to men. As a result of these views, women were not granted many of the rights as men and were unable to vote, own property, or hold labor intensive jobs. They were only permitted to be in certain professions including teaching, sewing, writing, working in factories, and staying at home with the children. The link below takes you to a website that explains the attitudes held towards women and what was considered acceptable behavior.
This image depicts a 19th century seamstress at her sewing machine. Women were barred from entering many professions traditionally held by men, who were seen as superior. Typically women held jobs that required little labor and physical effort.