The Victorians: Gender and Sexuality - Professor Richard J Evans

TL;DR

The Victorians were known for their prudery and strict gender roles, which shaped their attitudes towards sexuality. The social purity movement sought to regulate prostitution, while ideals of masculinity were tied to physical aggression and restraint.

Transcript

well good evening everybody and what better subjects talk this Valentine's Day evening than sex you for may remember those of you who stayed the course so far that earlier on in this series I gave an account of Thomas Fowler and his prudish traditions of Shakespeare his ten-volume family Shakespeare which contains it's nothing as added but certain ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧔‍♀️ Victorian culture upheld prudish attitudes towards sexuality and maintained a strict division between the roles of men and women.
• 😮 The Victorian era saw the rise of the social purity movement, which aimed to regulate prostitution and promote male self-restraint.
• 🤳 Ideals of masculinity in Victorian society revolved around physical aggression, self-restraint, and the rejection of sexual desires.
• 🥺 Women's increasing involvement in the public sphere led to the emergence of feminist movements and challenges to traditional gender norms.
• 🧔 The decline of the full patriarchal Victorian beard symbolized changing ideals of masculinity and shifts in societal attitudes towards sexuality.
• 😨 The criminalization of homosexuality in the late Victorian era reflects wider concerns about male self-restraint and a fear of degeneracy.
• 🪛 The social purity movement and moral reform efforts were driven by religious beliefs, particularly evangelical Christianity.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Victorian culture view gender roles and sexuality?

Victorian culture held strict gender roles, with a sharp distinction between men and women. Sexuality was seen as a private matter and discussions or exhibitions of it in public were frowned upon.

Q: What was the social purity movement and what did it seek to achieve?

The social purity movement, led by Josephine Butler, aimed to regulate prostitution and promote male self-restraint. It sought to provide protection against sexually transmitted diseases and restore sexual morality within society.

Q: How did ideals of masculinity shape Victorian society?

Ideals of masculinity in Victorian society emphasized physical aggression and self-restraint. Men were encouraged to control their sexual urges and redirect them towards sports and other forms of disciplined aggression.

Q: How did the social purity movement impact the lives of women involved in prostitution?

The social purity movement sought to rescue and reform women involved in prostitution, providing them with opportunities to reintegrate into respectable society. However, those who refused to repent were treated harshly and often faced continued police surveillance.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Victorians had prudish attitudes towards sexuality, with a sharp distinction between men and women and a belief in sexual restraints.

• Thomas Fowler's addition of certain words and expressions to Shakespeare's works reflected Victorian culture's reluctance to discuss or exhibit sexuality in public.

• The social purity movement of the 1880s aimed to curb prostitution and promote male self-restraint, while ideals of masculinity included physical aggression and abstinence.