Men belonged in the public sphere, while women belonged in the private sphere. Men were independent, while women were dependent. For men sex was central, and for women reproduction was central. Men were physically strong, while women were weak. ![]() Victorian gender ideology was premised on the “doctrine of separate spheres.” This stated that men and women were different and meant for different things. As is suggested by the sexual double standard, gender was considered to be biologically based and to be determinative of almost every aspect of an individual’s potential and character. While race, religion, region, and occupation were all meaningful aspects of identity and status, the main organizing principles of Victorian society were gender and class. Victorian society was organized hierarchically. These standards did not mesh with the reality of a society that featured prostitution, venereal disease, women with sexual desires, and men and women who felt same-sex desire, but they were important nonetheless. According to that double standard, men wanted and needed sex, and women were free of sexual desire and submitted to sex only to please their husbands. In addition, Victorians lived with a sexual double standard that few ever questioned before the end of the period. Most others never talked about sex respectable middle-class women in particular were proud of how little they knew about their own bodies and childbirth. Some few educated Victorians did write a lot about sex, including pornography, medical treatises, and psychological studies. There is some truth to both sides of this stereotype. Today “Victorian” connotes a prudish refusal to admit the existence of sex, hypocritically combined with constant discussions of sex, thinly veiled as a series of warnings. The Victorian England Quiz: Art, Literature, and Life The Victorian stereotype and double standard SpaceNext50 Britannica presents SpaceNext50, From the race to the Moon to space stewardship, we explore a wide range of subjects that feed our curiosity about space!.Learn about the major environmental problems facing our planet and what can be done about them! Saving Earth Britannica Presents Earth’s To-Do List for the 21st Century. ![]() 100 Women Britannica celebrates the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment, highlighting suffragists and history-making politicians. ![]() COVID-19 Portal While this global health crisis continues to evolve, it can be useful to look to past pandemics to better understand how to respond today.Student Portal Britannica is the ultimate student resource for key school subjects like history, government, literature, and more.This Time in History In these videos, find out what happened this month (or any month!) in history.#WTFact Videos In #WTFact Britannica shares some of the most bizarre facts we can find.Demystified Videos In Demystified, Britannica has all the answers to your burning questions.Britannica Classics Check out these retro videos from Encyclopedia Britannica’s archives.Britannica Explains In these videos, Britannica explains a variety of topics and answers frequently asked questions.
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