Feminism, Marriage, and the Law in Victorian England, 1850-1895

Bridging the fields of political theory and history, this comprehensive study of Victorian reforms in marriage law reshapes our understanding of the feminist movement of that period. As Mary Shanley shows, Victorian feminists argued that justice for women would not follow from public rights alone, but required a fundamental transformation of the marriage relationship. CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1. What Kind of a Contract Is Marriage? CHAPTER 2. Equal Rights and Spousal Friendship CHAPTER 3. The Unity of the Moral Law CHAPTER 4. An Ambiguous Victory CHAPTER 5. Parliament's Rejection of Parental Equality CHAPTER 6. A Husband's Right to His Wife's Body EPILOGUE. The Search for Spousal Equality BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX