Page 77 - All About History - Issue 38-16

G
Good Vibrations
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D D i s c o v e r h o w a s t r a n g e
Discover how a strange
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malady of the imagination became an
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malady of the imagination became an
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epidemic, and the even stranger treatment
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epidemic, and the even stranger treatment
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t o c u r e i t . T h i s i s t h e s t o r y o f s e x a n d h y s t e r i a
to cure it. This is the story of sex and hysteria
to cure it. This is the story of sex and hysteria
n

E
ia

V
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in Victorian England
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in Victorian England
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Respectable ladies like Fanny didn’t wear rouge –
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t’s the late 19th century and Mrs Fanny Respectable ladies like Fanny didn’t wear rouge – as was nagging and talking about housework
as was nagging and talking about housework
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that was reserved for prostitutes and actors. It was
about an hour before bed. And the cardinal rule of
Lovegood is leaving the doctor’s with a
Lovegood is leaving the doctor’s with a that was reserved for prostitutes and actors. It was about an hour before bed. And the cardinal rule of
important to be attractive, but it was scandalous for
spring in her step. Her symptoms had at important to be attractive, but it was scandalous for marriage? “Give little, give seldom, and above all,
marriage? “Give little, give seldom, and above all,
spring in her step. Her symptoms had at
a girl to use her good looks to seduce a man – just
first seemed drastic; depression, anxiety, a girl to use her good looks to seduce a man – just give grudgingly.”
give grudgingly.”
first seemed drastic; depression, anxiety,
one of the many contrasting ideals the Victorian
shortness of breath and sudden bursts one of the many contrasting ideals the Victorian œ
shortness of breath and sudden bursts
of uncontrollable emotion. These were
of uncontrollable emotion. These were era is infamous for. Indeed, from a male’s point of Frustrated Fannyera is infamous for. Indeed, from a male’s point of Frustrated Fanny
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I all classic signs of the Victorian era’s view, a woman’s only ambition was to become a In Victorian society, it was thought that a woman’s
a
I all classic signs of the Victorian era’s
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V
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om
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view, a woman’s only ambition was to become a
t
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y
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,
s
mother, and there was nothing sexual about that.
role as a wife and a mother was more than
frightful female affliction: hysteria. The cure? A
frightful female affliction: hysteria. The cure? A mother, and there was nothing sexual about that. role as a wife and a mother was more than
vigorous pelvic massage until hysterical paroxysm Take the doctor’s word for it. “The majority of emotionally satisfying. As the Industrial Revolution
vigorous pelvic massage until hysterical paroxysm
emotionally satisfying. As the Industrial Revolution
Take the doctor’s word for it. “The majority of
transformed Britain into a whirring, smoke-
is reached. Translation: masturbation.
is reached. Translation: masturbation. women (happily for them) are not very much transformed Britain into a whirring, smoke-
women (happily for them) are not very much
belching business machine, the notion of ‘separate
But what had driven Fanny to this clinical
But what had driven Fanny to this clinical troubled with sexual feeling of any kind,” said belching business machine, the notion of ‘separate
troubled with sexual feeling of any kind,” said
climax? Years previously, when she was busy William Acton, a leading Victorian gynaecologist. spheres’ was born. Men occupied the public
spheres’ was born. Men occupied the public
William Acton, a leading Victorian gynaecologist.
climax? Years previously, when she was busy
preparing for bliss-filled married life, she couldn’t “She submits herself to her husband, but only to sphere of economy and politics, and women were
sphere of economy and politics, and women were
preparing for bliss-filled married life, she couldn’t
“She submits herself to her husband, but only to
possibly have imagined she would need such
confined to the private sphere of the home – a
possibly have imagined she would need such please him; and, but for the desire of maternity, confined to the private sphere of the home – a
please him; and, but for the desire of maternity,
a treatment. For the proper Victorian lady, her would far rather be relieved from his attentions.” moral safe haven. At the time there was no greater
would far rather be relieved from his attentions.”
moral safe haven. At the time there was no greater
a treatment. For the proper Victorian lady, her
So what was a young bride to do? “Lie back
wedding day was the most important event of
model for femininity and virtue than Queen
wedding day was the most important event of So what was a young bride to do? “Lie back model for femininity and virtue than Queen
her whole life, but what was meant to be a happy
her whole life, but what was meant to be a happy and think of England,” one mother advised, or so Victoria herself, married to Albert and surrounded
and think of England,” one mother advised, or so
Victoria herself, married to Albert and surrounded
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by her many children in Balmoral Castle.
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ome
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the apocryphal story goes. Some
occasion was also fraught with anxiety and
occasion was also fraught with anxiety and t the apocryphal story goes. Some by her many children in Balmoral Castle. .
c
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l
Gender roles had never
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alternative advice was a little more
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conflicted emotions. On the one delicately white-
conflicted emotions. On the one delicately white- a alternative advice was a little more Gender roles had never
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ome
W
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“
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gloved hand, she had secured a man who would candid. “When he comes groping been more defined than in
gloved hand, she had secured a man who would
r
been more defined than in
candid. “When he comes groping
c
g
o
the Victorian era, and females
provide for her and the future family that society
provide for her and the future family that society into the room she should make the Victorian era, and females
into the room she should make
no sound to guide him in her
were seen simply as furniture
dictated they should have. On the other, she had to no sound to guide him in her were seen simply as furniture
dictated they should have. On the other, she had to
d
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.
e
s
h
h
o
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f
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y
t
for the household. “By the
get through the dreaded wedding night.
or
t
“
h
direction, lest he take this as a
he
get through the dreaded wedding night. direction, lest he take this as a for the household. “By the
B
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a
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f
mere fact of being born a male
me
e
g
m
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o
Carefully, the servants fastened the white
r
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t
Carefully, the servants fastened the white sign of encouragement…” one mere fact of being born a male
sign of encouragement…” one
b
a
or
f
a
e
satin gown – the only choice of hue since Queen 1 1894 article read. “There is always h e i s b y r i g h t t h e s u p e r i or o f
satin gown – the only choice of hue since Queen
he is by right the superior of
i
r
e
a
e
w
he is by right the superior of
l
r
s
4
e
l
y
9
a
“
s
1894 article read. “There is always
.
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ad
T
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v
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r
on
the hope that he will stumble
e
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Victoria’s Big Day. One popular lady’s monthly the hope that he will stumble a all and every one of an entire
all and every one of an entire
e
Victoria’s Big Day. One popular lady’s monthly
i
h
f
t
e
,
”
c
e
w
t
e
r
o
m
a
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declared it “an emblem of the purity and innocence
declared it “an emblem of the purity and innocence and incur some slight injury half of the human race,” wrote
and incur some slight injury
h
l
a
o
f
half of the human race,” wrote
wh
r
u
n
e
a
u
philosopher John Stuart Mill in
p
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s
o

of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields
h
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a
of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields which she can use as an excuse philosopher John Stuart Mill in
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Mill
which she can use as an excuse
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to the chosen one.” The wedding dress had become
to the chosen one.” The wedding dress had become to deny sexual access.” Though 1867.œWomen would answer to
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1867.œWomen would answer to
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to deny sexual access.” Though
d
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r
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a
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f
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,
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’
t
their father and brothers and,
o
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p
k
l
a
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a
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f
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y
n
d
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a frilled extension of a young bride’s chasteness – this is likely a parody, it’s not far their father and brothers and, ,
t
t
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a
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n
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this is likely a parody, it’s not far
h
a frilled extension of a young bride’s chasteness –
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ua
an essential attribute for wifely material – but their from the prevailing attitudes of e eventually, their husband. .
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an essential attribute for wifely material – but their
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from the prevailing attitudes of
a
s
eventually, their husband.
n
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the time. Apparently, feigned
If you weren’t hitched by your
grooms were not expected to be quite so pure.
grooms were not expected to be quite so pure. the time. Apparently, feigned If you weren’t hitched by your
r
headaches and sleepiness were
e
Gazing into a hand mirror, our Victorian bride-
25th birthday, you had no choice
Gazing into a hand mirror, our Victorian bride- headaches and sleepiness were 2 25th birthday, you had no choice
i
5
ad
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b
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,
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t
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a
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to-be pinches her cheeks to add a rosy glow. among a wife’s best friends, b u t t o g et c om f or t a b l e s i t t i n g on
but to get comfortable sitting on
but to get comfortable sitting on
to-be pinches her cheeks to add a rosy glow.
among a wife’s best friends,
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