The Role of

women in society

Thomas Hardy

Born: 2 June 1840Died: 11 January 1928

He was a Novelist, Poet, and Short Story writer.

Employment For women in 19th century

Type of Employment Number of women employed Domestic servants 1,740,800

Teachers 124,000

Nurses 68,000

Doctors 212

Architects 2

In the 19th century there were limited jobs available to women. It did not matter whether or not they were upper class or working class men had complete and utter power over them. The idea was that upper and middle class women had to stay dependent on a man: first as a daughter and later as a wife.

Women’s Rights In 1839 a law was passed whichstated if marriage broke down andparents separated, children sevenand under lived with their mother.

In 1870, women were allowed tokeep money that they had earned.

Matrimonial act of 1957 under theterms of the act, the husband hadonly to prove his wife's adultery,but the wife had to prove herhusband had committed not just

adultery but also incest, bigamy,cruelty or desertion.An example of someone who wasinvolved in women’s rights insociety was Emmeline Pankhurst;she was a leading British women'srights activist, who led themovement to win the right forwomen to vote.

Women Today & Women Yesterday

The Influence & Expectations Of Women Then..

Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management Wasfirst published in 1861, it was full of advice on how to become the perfecthousewife for middle class women.

Role Of Women: Differences Between The Classes.

Middle Class Women Upper Class Women

•Boiling water•Washing and ironing clothes •Floors were washed and scrubbed•Look After Children•Food was prepared before the return of their husbands•Teach Their daughters the work of a house wife•Clean the entire home

• Servants•Maids•Nanny’s for their children•Home entertainment

WOMEN HAVE MORE RIGHTS TAKE THE CHANCES YOU ARE GIVEN