While she was single, and of age, she could own property, run a business, was responsible legally for herself, --- BUT,..
ONCE SHE MARRIED... OOOOOOO!!!... 👀👀👀👉
Her husband became her protector. This meant that he now owned any property or money she formerly had, including her business. Her signature on any document meant mothing. If she wrote a story for a magazine, her copyright would mean nothing. Of course, he could beat her
and throw her out on the street to go her own way. Get this, --- there were even instances when a husband sold his wife,--- and it was legal! For quite a while, no matter what he did to her, it was illegal for a woman to divorce her husband, unless by an act of Parlaiment!
However, if her husband died her former rights would be restored to her. Then, why marry at all? Hmmm... A decent Victorian woman was supposed to fulfill her main function in life, --- to produce children. Social pressure to conform was great in Victorian times.
There was another reason why many women married, --- to escape poverty. A rich husband could save them, and perhaps, their families too, in this time when there were no social relief programs. A pretty young woman would marry a rich old man, old enough to be her father or grandfather. 😑
The alternative might be prostitution, maybe as an expensive mistress.
No comments:
Post a Comment