Roles of Women in the 18th and 19th Centuries Essay

Women's Roles Then And Now:

Societies have continued to change in every century because of influences of cultures in that time period. As these societies grow and develop, the role of various people in the family structure and unit also changes. The changes in the role of women in the society are mainly influenced by societal perception regarding women. As a result, there are significant differences in the role of women in the 19th Century and the roles of women in the 18th Century. One of the main reasons for these differences is that the modern society has is so fast-paced because of increased technological advancements unlike the 18th Century society. An understanding of the changing role of women in the 18th and 19th centuries can be seen from the conversation between two notable women i.e. Maria Elisabeth of Austria and Queen Victoria of Great Britain.

Biographic Information for Each Woman:

Maria Elisabeth of Austria lived in the 18th Century between 1680 and 1741 and was the daughter of Hapsburg Emperor Leopold I. Elisabeth was one of the notable women in the 18th Century following her appointment as the governor of Netherlands and her decision to remain unmarried or single throughout life. In addition to being the sister of Maria Anna, Queen of Portugal, she was renowned for being creatively and culturally proficient.

On the contrary, Queen Victoria lived in the 19th Century between 1819 and 1901 during which she became the Queen of Great Britain and contributed to the emergence of a period known as Victorian Era. As the only child of the Duke of Kent, Edward, Victoria ascended to the throne and became the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland (Sebellin, Woods & Grove, 2006). She ascended to this position at the age of 18 years and mostly relied on the Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, who acted as her teacher in political decision-making. Queen Victoria was an influential leader during the empire period and democracy in the nation.

The Conversation:

As previously mentioned the changing role of women in the 18th and 19th centuries can be seen in a conversation between these two notable and influential women during these periods. The dialogue is as follows & #8230;

Maria Elisabeth: During the 18th Century, women were mainly considered as slaves, which had a significant impact on the kinds of roles they played during my time. The treatment as slaves was evident in the high significance that was placed on marriage and increased dependence on men who played crucial roles for the survival of women ("The Role of the Woman," 1997).

Queen Victoria: I think the situation was quite different during my time because women were gradually allowed to play certain roles outside the home. However, their involvement in these activities was characterized by poor working conditions and settings.

Maria Elisabeth: During my times, only middle and upper class women accessed limited academic opportunities and were not allowed to access employment opportunities except those that were within the household settings. Educational opportunities for women in the 18th Century were mainly restricted to feminine arts such as needlework, music, dancing, and drawing ("The Role of the Woman," 1997).

Queen Victoria: Things were quite different in the 19th Century since some women started accessing educational opportunities in resident college and universities, a trend that contributed to a considerable change in the conditions and roles of women in the society. In most cases, women could be educated and allowed to study as long as their education did not have any effects on their roles at home (Radek, 2008).

Maria Elisabeth: For us ummm & #8230;.. eeeh & #8230; only a woman of high social status or caliber could access higher academic opportunities either in a seminary or be taught by an educator. A woman from middle class could teach herself as best as she could whereas those from lower classes were not educated even in feminine arts. One of the reasons for the seemingly meager education of women in the 18th…