Position:Home>History> How was the life for women in 1840s?

Well, if a woman was poor she would most likely work in domestic service, or in a factory, or sewing, or taking in washing, or perhaps running a boarding house or taking in lodgers!. She would work hard, and very long hours!. She would probably still go on working after she married, since many poor men did not earn enough to support a wife!.

Teaching was one of the few respectable ways for middle-class girls to earn a living in the 1840s!. Many single women worked as governesses (teaching children in their own homes) or as teachers in girls' boarding schools!. There wasn't any compulsory state education in England at that time, so there weren't so many teaching opportunities as there would be later (in America it was different, a lot of single women were working in the public school system in the 1840s)!.

Some wome made a name for themselves as writers!. The 1840s was the era when the Brontes began writing, and also Mrs Gaskell, another popular female novelist!. Some women might become singers or actresses, the famous Swedish singer jenny Lind made her debut in England in the 1840s!.

Single women whose families were well off would not generally expect to work, but would stay at home until they married!. They would enjoy themselves going out to parties and dances, and visiting friends!. Most young girls in those days were taught music, and any household that could afford it had a piano, so the daughters of the house could sing and play to entertain the family and visitors!. Sewing was another occupation that young women devoted a lot of time to, and sketching and painting were also popular pursuits!.

Once married, a woman was supposed to devote herself to home and family!. It was an era when "seperate spheres" was a doctrine much emphaised!. It was thought that women were too delicate and refined to be involved in the rough world of business and politics, and that they could do more good at home!. The idea of the woman as "the angel in the house" spreading a benevolent influence over everyone, was very popular at this time!.

Running a household was a much harder job then that it is now, with no labour-saving devices!. Houses got dirty very quickly because of the smoke from oil lamps, and smoke and cinders from coal fires!. And most houses did not have indoor plumbing, so water for washing had to be fetched in buckets from a well or pump, and if you wanted hot water it would have to be heated up over the fire!. Anyone who could afford it employed servants, and washing would often be sent out to be done, taking in washing was a way a lot of poor women earned a living!. Sewing and mending was something that took up a lot of time as well, most women would still make a lot of their own clothes and clothes for their families, and repair them when they got torn or worn!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Life was very harsh for poor women back in the 1840's because of poverty, they did not have rights so they could not do things like vote for Parliament, women were mere slaves back because the only things they could do was be a housewife or work in a brothel, they were also taken for granted, compared to a rich lady she would do lady like things like sow, go ride horses and have tea parties!.
Sorry that's all I can think of at the moment!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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we did this in history too!.

they couldn't vote, they suffered poverty, and they bascially had no human rights!. they were treated like slaves, and it wasnt a very nice time for them at all!. even when they were rich life wasnt too great either!. the had to look just perfect, still do all of the household chores if they were married!. no woman back in those days had many rights!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

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life for a wealthy woman was no bed of roses, she had to dress correct, subject to her husband, in many states she could not have a bank account or own land, very defined by society what she could or could not do!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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