Womens Rights in the 19th Century

AP Euro

LEGAL AND SOCIAL STATUS - Coverture and Legal Unity

In Britain and many parts of Europe, the doctrine of "coverture" meant a married woman’s legal existence was suspended and incorporated into that of her husband. She could not sign contracts, sue, or be sued independently

LEGAL AND SOCIAL STATUS - Property Rights

Married women generally lost ownership of their wages and personal property to their husbands upon marriage. Significant reforms, such as Britain's Married Women's Property Acts of 1870 and 1882, eventually allowed them to keep their own earnings and property.

LEGAL AND SOCIAL STATUS - Domestic Sphere

Society was divided into "separate spheres," with women expected to remain in the domestic sphere (home and family) while men occupied the public sphere (politics and commerce).

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT - Limited Access

Early in the century, women were largely excluded from universities and professional training.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT - Key Milestone #1

1848: Queen's College in London was founded to provide a marketable education for governesses

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT - Key Milestone #2

Late 19th Century: Many European universities began opening to women, including in Switzerland (Zurich) and eventually Britain.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT - Wage Disparity

While working-class women labored in factories, textile mills, and as domestic servants, they were paid significantly less than men for the same work

MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE - Inequality in Divorce

Under early laws like the English Matrimonial Causes Act of 1857, a husband only had to prove his wife's adultery to get a divorce, whereas a wife had to prove adultery plus additional "aggravated" offenses like cruelty or bigamy.

MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE - Custody Rights

For much of the century, fathers had absolute legal rights to their children. Acts like the Custody of Infants Act 1873 in Britain slowly began to grant mothers access and custody in cases of separation.

THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT - International Variations

Scandinavia led the way; Finland became the first European country to grant women full suffrage in 1906

THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT - Militant v. Peaceful

In Britain, the movement was split between "suffragists" (who used peaceful lobbying) and "suffragettes" (led by Emmeline Pankhurst, who used direct action like hunger strikes and public protests).

THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT - Opposing Ideologies

Arguments against suffrage often claimed it would "destabilize" the family or that women lacked the necessary knowledge of the public sphere.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS LEADERSHIP - Lydia Becker

Secretary of the Manchester Society and a prominent early leader who also campaigned for women's education

WOMEN’S RIGHTS LEADERSHIP - Millicent Fawcett

WOMEN’S RIGHTS LEADERSHIP - Emmeline Pankhurst

Founded the WFL before going on to establish the more militant Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the early 20th century.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS LEADERSHIP - Louise Otto-Peters

A pioneer of the German women's movement who co-founded and led the ADF for almost 30 years.

What impact did Nationalism play on Women’s Rights?

Nationalism had a complex, dual impact on women's rights in 19th-century Europe, simultaneously providing new opportunities for political engagement while also reinforcing traditional gender roles. The connection between the two was often contradictory, with outcomes varying significantly by country.

OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPETUS FOR INVOLVEMENT - A Rationale for Citizenship

Nationalism promoted the idea of shared rights and obligations within a nation-state, which women's rights advocates used to argue for their own inclusion as full citizens. They reasoned that if they were expected to contribute to the nation, they deserved a voice in its governance.

OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPETUS FOR INVOLVEMENT - Nation-Building Efforts

In countries striving for national unity or independence (e.g., Germany, Italy, Ireland), women actively participated in nationalist movements, believing that proving their loyalty and citizenship in the national struggle would be rewarded with rights after the struggle was won.

OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPETUS FOR INVOLVEMENT - “Mothers of the Nation”

Nationalist ideologies often emphasized women's unique role in transmitting national culture and raising future citizens. Feminists utilized this concept of "familial feminism" to argue for better education, health, and legal status, framed as beneficial to the nation's strength and progress as a whole, rather than just a matter of individual rights.

OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPETUS FOR INVOLVEMENT - Inclusive Nationalism in Scandinavia

In Scandinavian countries, where nationalism evolved in a more inclusive and moderate way, women's suffrage was achieved earlier (Finland in 1906, Norway in 1913, etc.), as the idea of incorporating all members into the democratic process was seen as a way to strengthen the nation.

CONSTRAINTS AND OPPOSITION - Subordination of Gender Struggle

Often, the demands of the nationalist movement took precedence over the fight for women's rights. Women were expected to put aside their specific goals for the "more urgent" goal of national liberation, with the promise of equality often unmet after independence was achieved

CONSTRAINTS AND OPPOSITION - Reinforcement of Traditional Roles

Nationalists often reaffirmed the traditional "separate spheres" ideology, which confined women to the private, domestic sphere while men dominated the public, political arena. This served to maintain social stability during periods of national change.

CONSTRAINTS AND OPPOSITION - Political Exclusion

In many established nation-states like France, conservative forces linked social disorder with demands for women's rights, using nationalist sentiment to keep women out of the political sphere for fear of destabilizing society.

CONSTRAINTS AND OPPOSITION - Division within the Movement

Nationalism sometimes caused friction within the women's rights movement itself. For instance, Irish suffragists were split over supporting either the British Unionist or Irish Nationalist cause, creating internal conflict that could hinder unified efforts.