One rule for men, another for women: Victorian sexual morality
In short
In Victorian Britain, sex outside marriage was judged far more harshly in women than in men. Under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857, a husband could divorce for adultery alone, while a wife had to prove an aggravating fault. The Contagious Diseases Acts of the 1860s targeted women suspected of prostitution and were repealed in 1886.
What the full article will cover
- What did 'respectability' mean to the Victorians?
- How did divorce law treat husbands and wives differently?
- What were the Contagious Diseases Acts?
- Who campaigned against them, and why?
- How did Victorian art portray the 'fallen woman'?
- Were the Victorians as prudish as their reputation?
Frequently asked questions
- Who was Josephine Butler?
- What is a 'fallen woman' in Victorian literature?
- When could Victorian wives divorce on equal terms?
- Why were the Contagious Diseases Acts repealed?
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/20-21/85/contents
- en.wikipedia.org — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrimonial_Causes_Act_1857
- legislation.gov.uk — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/49-50/10/contents
- tate.org.uk — https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/hunt-the-awakening-conscience-t02075
- en.wikipedia.org — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Awakening_Conscience
General information, not legal or religious advice.