Women in European History

¶ … Transition of the Role of Women in 19th Century European History

The essays written by Sarah Stickney Ellis (an excerpt from her book "The Wives of England"- 1843) and Jeanne Deroin (excerpt from "Almanach des Femmos"- 1852) are two critical works that depict the role and function of women in the English society during the 19th century. These two critical essays are essential studies of how women's role in the society shifted from one of subordination to a more liberal, even radical criticism of the society's treatment to the women sector. Ellis' essay was written in the year 1843, and her essay talks about women's subordination to men, while Deroin criticizes the unjust and unequal treatment of the society to its women, particularly in their role as wives, mothers, and as women inside the family institution. This paper will conduct a comparative analysis of these two important documents that depict how life had been to women in the 19th century English society.

Ellis' essay, an excerpt from her book, "The Wives of England," talks about the ways and actions a woman must portray in public in order to be considered an intelligent and 'rational' individual by her society. The essay is described as an advisory about the necessary actions a woman must do in order to make their husbands, or the men, "feel like kings in their own households and thereby become aware of just how much they need their devoted wives." Ellis started her essay by stating how the role of men in the society is essential, and how their role as the "head of a household" are both vital functions the males of the society must attend to, and in effect, Ellis makes it clear that the role of women fades in comparison with the important work men must do to both maintain the stability and security of the society and his family. Because of these essential roles a man must own as his responsibility, Ellis then supposes that a woman, "... happily for her, is seldom or never called upon to maintain" such important responsibilities given to men. In addition to treating the men's responsibilities in the society and family as more vital than that of women, Ellis also mentions how problematic it would be for men to have 'career' women as wives, who are "all day busily employed in writing a treatise on morals for his especial benefit." By saying this, Ellis meant to put the women's position in the society as subordinate to that of men's, all because men are deemed far more important (in terms of their work or output in the society) than women, who are strictly confined to domestic work, such as accomplishing household chores and attending to the men's needs. Ellis summarizes her point by saying that, "It is unquestionably the inalienable right of all men, whether ill or well, rich or poor, wise or foolish, to be treated with deference, and made much of in their own houses."

In lieu of this statement, Ellis recommends to women some suggestions wherein the men will favor women (their wives), which Ellis deems as right, because of the functional role that men have in the society. The author suggests that women do deeds that will "... not... lower or degrade the habitual train of your husband's thoughts," and Ellis also suggests that women should learn the rudiments of engaging in "large-scale talk" and "small talk," which are essential activities that women must participate in order to be considered intelligent and of rational thinking, and as Ellis qualifies, the "powers of conversation" is important in every woman's image because it shows "considerable attention to the improvement and cultivation of their intellectual powers." Thus, Ellis' essay illustrates how women are subordinated through the dictates of their own society, and this treatment is further reinforced by Ellis through her suggestions of simple activities such as the importance of attending to men when they are at home, or when engaging in conversation with other people in public, all of which are activities that reflect hoe women must carefully plan out their actions because of the critical treatment of their society to them.