George Eliot and Feminism
Given, a man with moderate intellect, a moral standard not higher than the average, some rhetorical affluence and a great glibness of speech, what is the career in which, without the aid of birth or money, he may most easily attain power and reputation in English society? Where is that Goshen of mediocrity in which a smattering of science and learning will pass for profound instruction, where platitudes will be accepted as wisdom, bigoted narrowness as holy zeal, unctuous egoism as God-given piety?"
George Eliot, "Evangelical Teaching: Dr. Cumming," an essay ridiculing the career of evangelism, printed in "Westminster Review," 1850s
In this day and age, books are being written with a motive to inculcate motives, teaching the readers a lesson every time they open the book.
Good books always serve as a constructive way to provoke idle thoughts. Women started writing as a profession back in the early 1800's. They started off writing articles for magazines, containing information on fashion, science, household tips, and covering other domestic issues. These magazines fostered every women with the proper code of etiquette, style and manner of dressing nicely even motivated women from the lower-class to take up writing as a paid profession. Since periodicals require many writers, it was very natural for women to be hired by these magazines because it was only they who could add that touch of class and approach. So it was the advent of magazines that made writing a profession to many women.
Women who took up writing as a profession had talent, drive, and the economic need just like men did. Most of these women came from families who provided them with good schooling. Some of them worked as writers because they were either widows or were the sole supporters of their families. Back then the range of careers for women were very limited, so besides teaching the only other option was writing. However, they were looked down upon for choosing a career in writing, this was openly accepted as a male-oriented career line.
In the earlier years of the twentieth century, women played a crucial role in reforming the society that was torn by two world wars and a sagging economy. This was the time where women began writing...
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