Sexual Attitudes In The 19th Century Essay

Superior Essays
Sexual attitudes have changed tremendously throughout history. In the 19th century women were seen as inferior individuals and did not equal up to the status of a man. Education and beauty did not at all matter to the superior sex of males. Women’s roles, economic status, and social status were all dominated by the male society. Silence lingered among women during the 19th century. They did as they were told and remained under the control of men. They spoke when spoken to and had intercourse when their men desired to. Disrespect was tolerated and women thought nothing of it because it was the norm. There was no backbone so men had every right to think of the female society as inferior. Due to this women were faced with major hardships: sex out-of-wedlock, same sex desires, problematic marriages, prostitution, and etc. Sexual attitudes have definitely been altered from the 19th century in comparison with present day.
Keywords: prostitution, wedlock, sexual, attitudes, 19th century
The Revolution of Sexual Attitudes
Female Inferiority “Woman is an evil, stupid animal unless she is educated and civilized to a high degree. She is incapable of dreaming, thinking, or loving.
…show more content…
Women have multiple children without being committed to a man she desires to be with for the rest of her life. The age when you begin your sexual life has decreased dramatically as well as the age of becoming pregnant. Due to this birth control has become a widely and highly popular supplement that is used to reduce the chances of conceiving a child if you’re sexually active. Punishment for such behavior seems not to exist which has resulted in becoming an American norm. Also the government now has programs that help support single mothers. For example, child support is a method commonly used when one of the two parents has full custody of a child and the other parent pays a specific amount to the full time parent to help support the needs of the

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    Hammurabi Dbq

    • 949 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Women did not have a lot of rights than the men. Women were treated unfairly and people at that time though of women as a lower classmen. Women had strict punishments when it came down to relationships with a man. Some laws were not logical and was irrational. For example, law 132 reads, “If the ‘finger is pointed’ at a man's wife about another man, but she is not caught sleeping with the other man, she shall jump into the river for her husband” (“Code”).…

    • 949 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Women mostly worked in the household, doing chores and housework. They barely had any political and legal rights during that time. Women were basically just by the side of men, they had no power to own their own property, vote, or make contracts. Women were basically seen as someone who improved the social standing of their husband (ushistory.org). For married women, right after they said, “I do”, the husband basically had the power to do anything with his wife.…

    • 1118 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Even after a long day of work women had to look nice for her husband, have dinner done and finish everything that needed done around the house. Women had limited rights, they were not able to do any hard labor jobs and some places did not hire married women. Women were allowed to vote.…

    • 370 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Sexuality In The 1920's

    • 175 Words
    • 1 Pages

    After reading your post Collin, movies, advertisement, and media did indeed change the idea of America's sexuality into a whole new perspective. The 1920's did unleash America's sexuality publicly by women reveling more skin, less clothing and expressing themselves more freely. However, you brought up Josephine Baker as an icon and sex symbol of the era. Is Josephine Baker considered to be an example of a "Flapper?"…

    • 175 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Treatment of married women in the late 1800’s Women played a major role in the 1800’s. No matter the diversity in society, women were still very efficient in what they did, however, being a woman had a negative outlook attached to it through a man's perspective, which then created and progressed unfair, and unequal treatment of married women in the late 1800’s. Throughout the late 1800’s, married women were treated unfairly due to their unequal work opportunities, right to vote, and gender outlook.…

    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    During the time of Jane Austen and Shakespeare, women were judged by the many different things that they did or didn’t do. One of the biggest things that came into play when determining the purity of a girl were her sexual relationships and if she was a promiscuous woman or not. In Much Ado about Nothing and Pride and Prejudice, we see that the promiscuity of male characters is treated differently and is seen as socially acceptable. Society has set and shaped standards causing women to have their own type of cultural rules to follow based off of their sexual impurity. When dealing with the same issue concerning men, it’s treated in a different way due to the fact that men had more power and received anything they would demand.…

    • 1999 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The next era Katz breaks down is the Late Victorian Sex-Love era (1860-1892). He explains the changes in era due to the “growth of a consumer economy [that] fostered a new pleasure ethic” (Katz). This is where the modern idea of a sensual society took root. As more suggestive content began being published in books and movies, “normal” and “abnormal” roles among men and women began to take shape. Medical doctors were also encouraging the new idea of sex as natural and not something that women should be ashamed for partaking…

    • 1403 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The 18th century was a very transitional time, especially for the legal system. During this time there was a blurring of crime and protest, a combination of traditional and elemental elements in the legal system, as well as the emergence of a modern police system. This time was also a transitional period for sexual relations. During the 18th century many men who were accused of rape could simply deny the charges, and, depending on popular opinion, the charges were usually dropped. During the 19th century the prosecution of men accused of sexual assault was just as difficult as it had been in the 18th century.…

    • 239 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Woman 's degradation is in man 's idea of his sexual rights. Our religion, laws, customs, are all founded on the belief that woman was made for man.” -Elizabeth Cady Stanton It was a time of drastic changes in politics, and mindsets of most, many people were pushing for the abolition of slavery, a sentiment that had come to the public eye in recent years.…

    • 1663 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Sexuality In 1984

    • 2100 Words
    • 9 Pages

    George Orwell’s 1984 is an oppressive world that drains the citizens that live under the INGSOC regime. The citizens of Oceania become repurposed by the Inner Party into tools that exist to perpetuate the class disparity between the Inner Party and the Proles. To summarize, sexuality’s importance to the narrative of 1984 concentrates on the dynamic thematic representations throughout the novel. This essay will highlight several examples of sexuality and sexual expression within 1984 and how sexuality is an act of freedom against oppression. Winston’s sexual past Winston acts as a window for Orwell to emphasize the importances of the state’s control over sexuality.…

    • 2100 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    During the Victorian period amongst many issues human sexuality, gender, and religion was heavily debated. Human sexuality is an element that has been evolving since the beginning of the nineteenth century. Sexual preference is one of the most criticized matters in society; moreover, to speak of sex is often taboo. These opinions are comparatively due to old teachings of religion. Although human sexual preference has become more accepted and published; however, during the Victorian period, homosexuality of any kind is a sinful and undiscussed act.…

    • 707 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The rise of new forms of sexual control stemmed from a cultural shift that was occurring throughout the nineteenth century in America. This shift was the rise of the middle class— a small part of the population defined by the privacy of the home and principles such as the importance of childrearing and sobriety. The middle class held significantly different values from the ones afforded to the working class and the sharp contrast between the classes led to new sexual authorities creating definitions of sexuality based on status. The advent of public versus private spheres also characterized this time and the ideal of sexual privacy led to the creation of the “natural woman,” a view that to be womanly is to be chaste. Between 1860 and 1930,…

    • 1665 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    After the plummet of the black death, that wiped out almost 80% of the population, something known as the Renaissance began to rise and flourish in many parts of Italy and Europe. The renaissance took place during 1350 and ended around 1450 or from the 14 to the 16 century. After the renaissance, people thought they had rediscovered the culture of the roman empire, therefore, the renaissance means rebirth. Like the middle ages, there was a hierarchy system which stated that royalty is on top, Nobles, Merchants, Workers and Tradesmen, and Peasants and Unskilled workers follow. Many people including children, men, and women had a very influential role in the acceleration of the renaissance.…

    • 1687 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    On the “Story of an Hour” by Chopin (66), shows the role of woman in marriage and society during the late 1800’s. It clearly demonstrates the problem of male dominance during this period. There are some similarities and differences in the role of a woman marriage during this time, and this can relate to the way females are treated today. These situations can be seeing in women rights and their responsibilities regarding family and marriage nowadays.…

    • 732 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Essay On Human Sexuality

    • 1056 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Present Personal Views and Beliefs on Human Sexuality Human sexuality can take on a number of connotations; all of which can vary depending on someone’s background, personal view and beliefs. Over the years my understanding of sexuality has changed as I have grown and matured. Present day, my sexuality plays a major part in my everyday life. My sexuality determines how I interact with others and is integrated into my feelings and reactions. I consider myself a very sexual being, my femininity is emanated into who I am.…

    • 1056 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays