Victorian London's Middle-Class Housewife: What She Did All Day (Contributions in Women's Studies)

Through a detailed description of the life and activities of the middle-class married woman of London between 1875 and 1900, this study reveals how housewives unwittingly became engines for change as the new century neared. In marked contrast to the stereotypical depictions of Victorian women in literature and on television, Draznin reveals a woman seldom seen: the stay-at-home housewife whose activities were not much different than those of her counterparts today. By exploring her daily activities, how she cleaned her home, disciplined her children, managed her servants, stretched a limited budget, and began to indulge herself, one discovers the human dimension of women who lived more than a century ago. While most studies of this period consider values, aspirations, and attitudes, this book concentrates on actions, what these women did all day, to provide readers with a new perspective on Victorian life.Late-Victorian London was a surprisingly modern city with a public face of well-lit streets, an excellent underground railway system, and extended municipal services. In the home, gas stoves were replacing coal ranges and household appliances were becoming more common. Having both money to spend and a strong incentive to buy the new laborsaving devices, ready-to-wear clothing, and other manufactured products, the middle-class matron's resistance to change gave way to a rising consumer culture. Despite her nearly exclusive preoccupation with home and family, these urban women became agents for the modernization of Britain. Annotation Describes In Detail The Life And Activities Of The Middle-class Married Woman Of London Between 1875 And 1900 And Reveals How Housewives Unwittingly Became Engines For Change As The New Century Neared. The Mcmw's Background, 1850-1875 -- Growing Up Female In Mid-century England -- Greater London In 1875: A Resident's View -- The Mcmw's Spouse And The Couple's First Home -- The Matron's Appearance: Her Looks And Her Clothing -- The Reality: Life In Greater London, 1875-1900 -- The Housewife As Lowly Domestic: Cleaning The House And Doing The Laundry -- The Housewife As Specialized Domestic: Preparing The Meals And Clothing The Family -- The Housewife As Employer: Managing The Servants -- The Housewife As Financial Manager: Balancing The Budget -- The Housewife In Her Maternal Role: As Bride, Potential Mother, And Pregnant Wife -- The Matron As Guardian Of The Family's Health -- The Matron As Nurturer Of The Children: Early Child Care And Education -- The Matron As Social Secretary And Activities Coordinator -- The Matron As Morals Arbiter: Managing The Family's Religious And Charitable Obligations -- The Matron As Her Own Person: Satisfying Personal Needs Within And Outside The Home -- The Middle-class Housewife As Shopper: The Emergence Of Late-nineteenth-century Consumerism -- The End Of The Century: Conclusion -- London In 1900: A World City Reluctant To Change -- The Middle-class Housewife In 1900: Inadvertent Agent For Change -- Victorian Money. Yaffa Claire Draznin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [193]-203) And Index. Through a detailed description of the life and activities of the middle-class married woman of London between 1875 and 1900, this study reveals how housewives unwittingly became engines for change as the new century neared. In marked contrast to the stereotypical depictions of Victorian women in literature and on television, Draznin reveals a woman seldom the stay-at-home housewife whose activities were not much different than those of her counterparts today. By exploring her daily activities, how she cleaned her home, disciplined her children, managed her servants, stretched a limited budget, and began to indulge herself, one discovers the human dimension of women who lived more than a century ago. While most studies of this period consider values, aspirations, and attitudes, this book concentrates on actions, what these women did all day, to provide readers with a new perspective on Victorian life. Late-Victorian London was a surprisingly modern city with a public face of well-lit streets, an excellent underground railway system, and extended municipal services. In the home, gas stoves were replacing coal ranges and household appliances were becoming more common. Having both money to spend and a strong incentive to buy the new laborsaving devices, ready-to-wear clothing, and other manufactured products, the middle-class matron's resistance to change gave way to a rising consumer culture. Despite her nearly exclusive preoccupation with home and family, these urban women became agents for the modernization of Britain. The story begins, not in 1875 when the young lady set up residence in London as a newlywed, but twenty-five years before.