Women in Victorian England

1. Women in Victorian England Michelle Angelico Abby Milligan Erin Pletch

2. Jobs and social classes • most women were housewives • 3% of white women and 25% of black women were working for wages • Most of the working women were maids, nurses,laundresses, teachers, social workers or psychiatrists • Wealthy women had the easiest life • The way the women were dressed depended on the amount of money their family had

3. Jobs and Social Classes Continued • Middle class were almost like a guide to the lower class • Middle class lectured lower class to keep their houses clean • middle felt superior to lower • Lower class was treated unfairly • When husband or father died very little or no money left for women • It was very common for women to become prostitutes

4. Travel • For the most part women never traveled alone • Men believed that a womens place was at home and they should not travel. • Clothing sometimes permitted them from traveling

5. Clothing • clothing varied with class • Stockings worn above the knees (black for daytime wear white for evening) that were held up by garters • corset strengthened with steel or whalebone. fastened in the front but had ties in back to adjust tightness. women pulled them tight to get a tiny waist and sometimes got them to 4 inches smaller than natural waist. • Crinoline flexible cage of steel that supported the skirt and held it in a perfect bell shape • camisole went over the corset shield between dress and skin and protected the expensive garments from oils and perspiration

6. Clothing continued • petticoat went over the crinoline to protect the skirt and helped gown lay smooth • gown. proper women wore high neck and long sleeves during the day, a lower neckline for dinnertime and a plunging neckline and off the shoulder sleeves. • a victorian women never went without gloves and a bonnet • half boots with thick soles were part of a day outfit • thin soled slippers were accessories to a ball gown soles were paper thin and often danced through by the end of the night

8. Rights • In early 1850s women had very little rights • Before 1857 women had to get an act of parliament to get a divorce • Matrimonial causes act let women get a divorce without an act of parliament and also let women keep the money that they owe and not have to gove their money to their former husband • Women were not aloud to be further educated until 1874 when london school of medicine for women opened • in 1878 women were allowed to attend any university • Women were never allowed to vote

9. The End!