Status of Women in Late Victorian Society

The writings of John Stuart Mill in ôThe Subjection of Womenö and The Odd Women by George Gissing both demonstrate the status of women in late Victorian society. This status, apparent in the writings of both authors, is one that is subjugated to patriarchal dominance. Mill likens the status of women to a tree or hedge in a garden that is nurtured and pruned by men. Mill makes the claim that real justice in society would make no distinction based on sex. In The Odd Women, Gissing does show women who try to change society to undermine the patriarchy, like Mary Barfoot and Rhoda Nunn. However, in his character of Monica Madden, who tries to change her relationship with men on the personal level, Gissing most shows his similarity to MillÆs assessment of the status of women in Victorian society.

Women living in the Victorian era were relegated to the roles of wife, mother, and housekeeper. The domestic sphere being a womanÆs place and marriage being a ônorm,ö were accepted mores of the era by many men and women. Those women who were outside these boundaries represented the ôodd womenö referred to by Gissing, those women who remained single and required their own source of income. Mill maintains in ôThe Subjection of Womenö that historically women have been kept in an unnatural and controlled state by men that have undermined their true nature and expression. It also limits the development of higher skills in wom

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s that is irrespective of gender. We see this when Monica confronts her husband about views that limit womenÆs expressions and behavior. When Edmund tells her he could never have her walk home alone after dark, she replies with irritation, ôWhy not? Are you afraid I shall be robbed or murderedö (Gissing 1998, p. 165). We see Monica feels captive to her husbandÆs confining nature. He must approve or disapprove virtually every aspect of her behavior, including how she dresses. We see GissingÆs (1998) depiction of her feeling captive is similar to MillÆs assessment that women are basically ôownedö by men when, after her husbandÆs approves a colorful dress for her, Monica says ôYou are making a butterfly of meö (p. 167). MillÆs assessment of women also maintains that because they are shackled unnaturally in the domestic sphere, they are seldom able to contribute to society in ways they otherwise might. This unnatural domination over womenÆs activity and roles also keeps women from being able to develop natural gifts or potentialities that shortchange both women and men according to Mill. In fact, this artificial confinement of women undermines all society and humanity, according to Mill. As Mill (1989) writes, ôevery restrain
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Approximate Word count = 1217
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)

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