The aim of this paper is to explore the variety of new social and literary forms adopted by the New Woman movement at the end of the 19th century. We want to discuss the different debates on femininity at the fin de siècle with views on lesbianism and the marriage concept at the time.
Women challenged their subordinate social and political position and condemned prevailing sexual double standard during the course of the 19th century. They urged for women’s rights to employment and full citizenship. With the new theories on Darwinism New Women found a way to rationalize their demands, apart from social and political arguments, also with biological explanations. They voiced their concerns over the woman’s reduction in a patriarchal state and set education, marriage laws and social morality on the top of their reform-list. One factor for early feminists was the 1832 Reform Act, which governed women’s exclusion from the franchise. By the 1850s British feminism had gained an organized form and coherence, largely through the campaigns of middle-class women. Magazines and novels were a vehicle of feminist protest and thus the social and economic position of women underwent great changes.
Table of Contents
- The New Woman - An Introduction
- The New Woman's Name and Means
- The New Woman's Image
- New Education
- The New Woman Literature
- Challenges of and to Fashion
- The New Woman's Take on the 'Woman Question'
- The New Woman and Sexuality
- Lesbianism
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to examine the New Woman movement in 1890s England, exploring its social and literary manifestations, and analyzing the diverse perspectives on femininity, marriage, sexuality, and lesbianism prevalent during this period. It also seeks to understand the impact of this movement on societal norms and the extent to which it brought about genuine changes in women's lives.
- The social and literary emergence of the "New Woman" in 1890s England.
- The evolving image and representation of the New Woman in media and literature.
- Contemporary debates surrounding femininity, marriage, and sexuality.
- The diverse political viewpoints of New Women on education, marriage laws, and social morality.
- The impact of the New Woman movement on the broader feminist movement and its lasting legacy.
Chapter Summaries
The New Woman - An Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for exploring the New Woman movement in 1890s England, highlighting the context of social and technical advancements and the growing feminist activism that preceded it. It emphasizes the increasing politicization of personal choices for women and introduces the "New Woman" as a visible agent of this movement, actively challenging societal norms and advocating for significant changes in women's roles and rights. The chapter lays the groundwork for examining the varied forms of expression and engagement adopted by the New Woman movement, including literature, social clubs, and public discourse, and promises a deeper dive into the contemporary debates on femininity, sexuality, marriage, and the changing gender dynamics of the late 19th century. It also foreshadows a discussion on the diverse political viewpoints within the movement itself, acknowledging the heterogeneity of the group and the complexity of its goals.
The New Woman's Name and Means: This chapter delves into the origins and meaning of the term "New Woman," tracing its usage by Ouida and its association with power-seeking women challenging conventional notions of femininity. It discusses the everyday practices through which New Women expressed their emancipation, such as smoking, cycling, and independent travel. The chapter highlights the New Woman movement's connection to the suffrage movement and differentiates between two generations of New Women, focusing its analysis on the first generation (1880s-1890s). It explores the various avenues through which New Women advocated for change, such as the popular press, fiction writing, and feminist newspapers, emphasizing the importance of these publications in shaping public discourse and promoting feminist ideals. The chapter also touches upon the often contradictory portrayal of New Women in the media, highlighting both their positive and negative representations.
The New Woman's Image: This chapter analyzes the visual and textual representations of the New Woman in the press, particularly focusing on satirical portrayals in magazines like "Punch." It examines how imagery, such as women with latchkeys, cigarettes, and unconventional attire, symbolized the independence and defiance associated with the New Woman. The chapter discusses the use of caricatures and exaggerations in these portrayals and explores the significance of the "Donna Quixote" caricature, which incorporated subversive literature and symbolized the perceived threat posed by the New Woman's intellectual and political aspirations. It further explores the conservative anxieties surrounding higher education for women and the perceived influence of foreign ideas on the New Woman's development.
Keywords
New Woman, feminism, 1890s England, suffrage movement, gender roles, sexuality, lesbianism, literature, media representation, social change, political activism, feminist discourse, marriage, women's rights, social morality, higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of the New Woman Movement
What is the main topic of this text?
This text provides a comprehensive overview of the "New Woman" movement in 1890s England. It explores the movement's social and literary manifestations, analyzing diverse perspectives on femininity, marriage, sexuality, and lesbianism during that period. The text also examines the movement's impact on societal norms and its lasting legacy.
What aspects of the New Woman movement are covered?
The text covers a wide range of aspects, including the social and literary emergence of the New Woman, her evolving image in media and literature, contemporary debates surrounding femininity, marriage, and sexuality, the diverse political viewpoints of New Women, and the movement's impact on the broader feminist movement.
What is included in the Table of Contents?
The table of contents includes sections on: An Introduction to the New Woman; The New Woman's Name and Means (including her image); New Education; The New Woman's Literature; Challenges of and to Fashion; The New Woman's Take on the 'Woman Question'; and The New Woman and Sexuality (including Lesbianism).
What are the key objectives and themes of the text?
The primary objective is to examine the New Woman movement in 1890s England, analyzing its social and literary expressions and the varied perspectives on femininity, marriage, sexuality, and lesbianism. Key themes include the social and literary emergence of the New Woman, her evolving image, contemporary debates on gender roles, and the movement's impact on societal norms and the feminist movement.
What are the chapter summaries about?
The chapter summaries provide detailed overviews of each section. The introduction sets the historical context. Subsequent chapters delve into the meaning of the term "New Woman," its visual and textual representations in the media, and the various ways New Women challenged societal norms. The summaries highlight the complexities and diverse viewpoints within the movement.
What keywords are associated with this text?
Key words include: New Woman, feminism, 1890s England, suffrage movement, gender roles, sexuality, lesbianism, literature, media representation, social change, political activism, feminist discourse, marriage, women's rights, social morality, and higher education.
What kind of audience is this text intended for?
Given its academic nature and in-depth analysis, this text is primarily intended for academic use, particularly for researchers and students studying feminism, gender studies, social history, and the literature of the late 19th century.
What is the purpose of this comprehensive language preview?
This preview serves as a detailed summary of the text, providing readers with a thorough understanding of its content, scope, and objectives before engaging with the full work. It aims to assist in academic research and analysis of the New Woman movement.
- Quote paper
- Nicole Schindler (Author), Julia Oesterreich (Author), 2005, The new women movement of the 1890s in England, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/47197
