Victorian history is rife with things such as child labor, gender inequality, class inequality, what it means to be an artist, what is art, and the debates of what it is to have man vs machine. In AH, we explore these while at the same time enjoying the lace, fans, parasols, top hats, and social season.
Some helpful things for the writer to know would be:
- Factory abuse and labor laws are in place: a set of work hours not beyond eight imposed, age limits for hiring, etc. Still it goes on in less policed areas or in scenarios where no one will simply talk. Unions form, but are often seen as a part of Neo-Luddite activity.
- There are people who do not fit the standard definition of normal in London. LGBT persons, cross-dressers, those who refuse to marry, 'career women', and more populate society as they always have. Homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death, but rarely enforced to this extreme. Jail time, however, is. There are still cabaret shows where LGBT as well as other issues of societal sex and class are spoofed both in London neighborhoods and above it, in the middle air and Sky Common. More communities of tolerance exist sky bound than you will ever find on earth, or buried deep. Artists and writers gather together to record all of these signs of the times.
- Career oriented women such as factory girls, shop owners, and intelligencia have been around for years. The shrewd woman has long since done good business, owned her premises, and survived. It seems that in some areas such as dealing with antiques, the education of children, finishing schools, and certain gentler arts, we enjoy a great success. The intelligencia is opening its doors by allowing female only societies, and brokering mixed gender as well. Still, the over-learned is ridiculed to no end. It is still expected that she, like any other woman, would put aside anything indecent to keep up with the cult of domesticity.
- Pimps, whores, madames, mistresses, and courtesans exist, and in AH, experience a little more gender-equality professionalism than regular citizens. Still, it isn't easy making a White Chapel Farthing. People of both sexes vanish without someone reporting it to the police among the poorer whores of the East Side brothels. Beatings can be regular, and addiction to numb the pain, very common. Courtesans and kept folk frequent the Aphrodite, other supper clubs, and depending on their education, just about anywhere their gentleman or ladies prefer to take them. Still, the unwise courtesan who saves not will have nothing to spare later.
- The law is biased toward men. They are able to exercise full legal, judicial, economic, and civic agendas without any more reproach than would come from rule breaking or debate. Women, on the other hand? They are fighting for their rights. The reign of Queen Victoria demonstrated a happy domestic life in which she was close to, and over saw much, of her children's life. She was the keeper of what was good, dutiful, and moral. While she, herself, was declared Queen, there are still some things that are hard.
- Women can file for divorce, but it is not guaranteed how their case will go, if it will be heard, or even accepted. Men who file for divorce are guaranteed. In fact, a woman after a divorce is tantamount to social ruin. A woman must prove her facts doubly as hard as a man.
- Women are not guaranteed property rights when married, or rights to their children. Anything she owns, earns, brings in through inheritance becomes the property of her husband. Things pass through and to men, and in court, it is truly the judges' decision. Yet if a woman does not work, what funds does she have to support a home?
- Women do not vote in the public sphere or make policy.
- Women have property rights as far as businesses may go, but even this is a shady, dicey enterprise. It takes much savy to negotiate both with banks and lawyers. The wise woman will see to it that if passed through her in a family way, there is writing stating that it is indeed hers. Entering in to contracts on their own instead of on behalf or with permission of men is just now coming to fore.
- Women are styled and titled, yet do not inherit as heiresses in their own right because they are women. Their monies may be better seen as a dowry for marriage. It is not give to her for her benefit, and if so, must be implicitly stated. It is easier to be a married, estranged noble, a woman caring for male relatives, or a widowed noble at the end of the day. Women who are the only remaining relatives are on the verge of now inheriting as heiress apparent, with access and control to be given without male support or the necessity of marriage. In some rare cases, women did inherit property and title alone. But this has been very, very rare. Marriage is seen as way for men to grow, all. Join the fight!
- Women are on the verge of teaching in major universities, but the path is laid with scorn. It takes a strong man to acknowledge his equal in, and better, of female colleagues. Areas such as the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood are doing this quite well. They have long since acknowledged women as equal in competency for science as for art, and are insisting the Royal Society include women for scientific achievements. They are nurses, and gaining some foot as physicians.
An good look at this subject can be seen here: Women in the Victorian Era
[align=center]Social Items Effecting Women[/align]
Infants and Child Custody Act - (1839)
women were allowed take custody of their children under the age of seven if divorced or separated. They could not take custody if they had been found to be adulterous. Before this law the father was immediately awarded custody and it did not depend on the reasons for divorce.
Women in Service of the Empire Act (1856)
a recognized statute that women may serve in a military capacity consisting of medicinal (nurses, surgeons assistant) as well as soldiers at home and abroad. This was done after a member of the British Navy and Aerospace Brigade revealed that he was indeed a she. The rank of women may be limited for their own benefit by their superiors, and they are prone to earlier retirement. Women may collect pension on retirement total to the rank they've acquired, and more in cases of valor. They may be given medals for their service.
Rights of Women to Business (1854)
In realizing the increasing amount of women in places of work, it was determined that women had the right to own business and conduct business manners (monetary/banking) in their own right. While this is so, it is still often done that women utilize male representation, and the unwise woman can find herself brought out. Those women most in trouble are those whose business is familial where she is not listed on the will, or within marriage.
Matrimonial Causes Act - (1857)
allows divorce—but only in limited instances: Imposes matrimonial double standard: Permits men to divorce on grounds of adultery, but not women.
Civil divorce was introduced in England - (1857)
The process left the divorced pair either unable to remarry, or it declared their existing children as illegitimate.
Married Women's Property Act - (1870)
allowed for women to keep their earnings and even inherit personal property and money. Everything else still belonged to her husband if she had acquired it before or after marriage.
The Case of the Heiress Apparent - (1870)
the legal proceedings in the Cleverly Lordship case are setting a standard that young women should inherit, as per will orders or as per being included in a descent line devoid of male requirement, to inherit all titles, estates, monies, and responsibilities of the same without the precursor for male guardianship, marriage, or to hand over these items when married. It is said the official act of law may come as soon as a few months, or as early as the beginnings of 1871. Already from this, some women are being granted trust funds, as well as inheritances, not forced to give them away during marriage, nor in marriage.
[align=center]A Timeline of Victorian Era Legislation is here:[/align]
1839: Infants and Child Custody Act: women were allowed take custody of their children under the age of seven if divorced or separated. They could not take custody if they had been found to be adulterous. Before this law the father was immediately awarded custody and it did not depend on the reasons for divorce.
1857: Matrimonial Causes Act: allows divorce—but only in limited instances: Imposes matrimonial double standard: Permits men to divorce on grounds of adultery, but not women.
1857: Civil divorce was introduced in England: The process left the divorced pair either unable to remarry, or it declared their existing children as illegitimate.
1870: Married Women's Property Act: allowed for women to keep their earnings and even inherit personal property and money. Everything else still belonged to her husband if she had acquired it before or after marriage.
1882: a woman could finally keep all personal and real property that she had gotten before and during her marriage.
1883: Custody Acts: allowed for women to be awarded custody of children up to the age of 16
Credit:
Much of the information was provided and/or researched by Livie Marie and me from the defunct forum, Gears and Glass circa 2012, with updates for the forum Anachronistic Hearts.
Some helpful things for the writer to know would be:
- Factory abuse and labor laws are in place: a set of work hours not beyond eight imposed, age limits for hiring, etc. Still it goes on in less policed areas or in scenarios where no one will simply talk. Unions form, but are often seen as a part of Neo-Luddite activity.
- There are people who do not fit the standard definition of normal in London. LGBT persons, cross-dressers, those who refuse to marry, 'career women', and more populate society as they always have. Homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death, but rarely enforced to this extreme. Jail time, however, is. There are still cabaret shows where LGBT as well as other issues of societal sex and class are spoofed both in London neighborhoods and above it, in the middle air and Sky Common. More communities of tolerance exist sky bound than you will ever find on earth, or buried deep. Artists and writers gather together to record all of these signs of the times.
- Career oriented women such as factory girls, shop owners, and intelligencia have been around for years. The shrewd woman has long since done good business, owned her premises, and survived. It seems that in some areas such as dealing with antiques, the education of children, finishing schools, and certain gentler arts, we enjoy a great success. The intelligencia is opening its doors by allowing female only societies, and brokering mixed gender as well. Still, the over-learned is ridiculed to no end. It is still expected that she, like any other woman, would put aside anything indecent to keep up with the cult of domesticity.
- Pimps, whores, madames, mistresses, and courtesans exist, and in AH, experience a little more gender-equality professionalism than regular citizens. Still, it isn't easy making a White Chapel Farthing. People of both sexes vanish without someone reporting it to the police among the poorer whores of the East Side brothels. Beatings can be regular, and addiction to numb the pain, very common. Courtesans and kept folk frequent the Aphrodite, other supper clubs, and depending on their education, just about anywhere their gentleman or ladies prefer to take them. Still, the unwise courtesan who saves not will have nothing to spare later.
- The law is biased toward men. They are able to exercise full legal, judicial, economic, and civic agendas without any more reproach than would come from rule breaking or debate. Women, on the other hand? They are fighting for their rights. The reign of Queen Victoria demonstrated a happy domestic life in which she was close to, and over saw much, of her children's life. She was the keeper of what was good, dutiful, and moral. While she, herself, was declared Queen, there are still some things that are hard.
- Women can file for divorce, but it is not guaranteed how their case will go, if it will be heard, or even accepted. Men who file for divorce are guaranteed. In fact, a woman after a divorce is tantamount to social ruin. A woman must prove her facts doubly as hard as a man.
- Women are not guaranteed property rights when married, or rights to their children. Anything she owns, earns, brings in through inheritance becomes the property of her husband. Things pass through and to men, and in court, it is truly the judges' decision. Yet if a woman does not work, what funds does she have to support a home?
- Women do not vote in the public sphere or make policy.
- Women have property rights as far as businesses may go, but even this is a shady, dicey enterprise. It takes much savy to negotiate both with banks and lawyers. The wise woman will see to it that if passed through her in a family way, there is writing stating that it is indeed hers. Entering in to contracts on their own instead of on behalf or with permission of men is just now coming to fore.
- Women are styled and titled, yet do not inherit as heiresses in their own right because they are women. Their monies may be better seen as a dowry for marriage. It is not give to her for her benefit, and if so, must be implicitly stated. It is easier to be a married, estranged noble, a woman caring for male relatives, or a widowed noble at the end of the day. Women who are the only remaining relatives are on the verge of now inheriting as heiress apparent, with access and control to be given without male support or the necessity of marriage. In some rare cases, women did inherit property and title alone. But this has been very, very rare. Marriage is seen as way for men to grow, all. Join the fight!
- Women are on the verge of teaching in major universities, but the path is laid with scorn. It takes a strong man to acknowledge his equal in, and better, of female colleagues. Areas such as the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood are doing this quite well. They have long since acknowledged women as equal in competency for science as for art, and are insisting the Royal Society include women for scientific achievements. They are nurses, and gaining some foot as physicians.
An good look at this subject can be seen here: Women in the Victorian Era
[align=center]Social Items Effecting Women[/align]
Infants and Child Custody Act - (1839)
women were allowed take custody of their children under the age of seven if divorced or separated. They could not take custody if they had been found to be adulterous. Before this law the father was immediately awarded custody and it did not depend on the reasons for divorce.
Women in Service of the Empire Act (1856)
a recognized statute that women may serve in a military capacity consisting of medicinal (nurses, surgeons assistant) as well as soldiers at home and abroad. This was done after a member of the British Navy and Aerospace Brigade revealed that he was indeed a she. The rank of women may be limited for their own benefit by their superiors, and they are prone to earlier retirement. Women may collect pension on retirement total to the rank they've acquired, and more in cases of valor. They may be given medals for their service.
Rights of Women to Business (1854)
In realizing the increasing amount of women in places of work, it was determined that women had the right to own business and conduct business manners (monetary/banking) in their own right. While this is so, it is still often done that women utilize male representation, and the unwise woman can find herself brought out. Those women most in trouble are those whose business is familial where she is not listed on the will, or within marriage.
Matrimonial Causes Act - (1857)
allows divorce—but only in limited instances: Imposes matrimonial double standard: Permits men to divorce on grounds of adultery, but not women.
Civil divorce was introduced in England - (1857)
The process left the divorced pair either unable to remarry, or it declared their existing children as illegitimate.
Married Women's Property Act - (1870)
allowed for women to keep their earnings and even inherit personal property and money. Everything else still belonged to her husband if she had acquired it before or after marriage.
The Case of the Heiress Apparent - (1870)
the legal proceedings in the Cleverly Lordship case are setting a standard that young women should inherit, as per will orders or as per being included in a descent line devoid of male requirement, to inherit all titles, estates, monies, and responsibilities of the same without the precursor for male guardianship, marriage, or to hand over these items when married. It is said the official act of law may come as soon as a few months, or as early as the beginnings of 1871. Already from this, some women are being granted trust funds, as well as inheritances, not forced to give them away during marriage, nor in marriage.
[align=center]A Timeline of Victorian Era Legislation is here:[/align]
1839: Infants and Child Custody Act: women were allowed take custody of their children under the age of seven if divorced or separated. They could not take custody if they had been found to be adulterous. Before this law the father was immediately awarded custody and it did not depend on the reasons for divorce.
1857: Matrimonial Causes Act: allows divorce—but only in limited instances: Imposes matrimonial double standard: Permits men to divorce on grounds of adultery, but not women.
1857: Civil divorce was introduced in England: The process left the divorced pair either unable to remarry, or it declared their existing children as illegitimate.
1870: Married Women's Property Act: allowed for women to keep their earnings and even inherit personal property and money. Everything else still belonged to her husband if she had acquired it before or after marriage.
1882: a woman could finally keep all personal and real property that she had gotten before and during her marriage.
1883: Custody Acts: allowed for women to be awarded custody of children up to the age of 16
Credit:
Much of the information was provided and/or researched by Livie Marie and me from the defunct forum, Gears and Glass circa 2012, with updates for the forum Anachronistic Hearts.
Moderators: Playerfiles