Note that judging from period fiction, women of the Victorian lower and middle-middle classes were often financially anxious. Unmarried women had few alternatives but to marry, but not all that many opportunities. Until they were "settled," they had to strive to look as good as possible and attend as many parties as possible, even on a small budget. They also had to work to acquire "accomplishments," such as singing, dancing, and playing the piano, to be more popular at parties and more attractive to potential husbands. If they were widowed, the anxiety started all over again, unless their husband had left them a comfortable amount of money. If they were matrons, they had to worry about marrying off their daughters. Even grandmothers, aunts, married older sisters, and family friends lent a hand. Women put an incredible amount of effort into achieving marriages for themselves and their relatives.
Fran Lavolta Press www.lavoltapress.com On 10/12/2014 10:51 AM, Cascio Michael wrote:
Hi All,
I've given some thought as to how I would describe middle class for my
research project since you're all correct in that middle class covers a wide
range.
I'm looking at people who had enough that they could grow or purchase enough
food to not worry about having food, farm families would be included since even
if the women didn't work outside the home as in more recent centuries they
definitely contributed, maybe afford to throw the occasional gathering or party
and had a special outfit or two for funerals or special occasions such as
holidays. I'm thinking yeoman or burgher class for earlier centuries. People
with enough not to feel threatened financially on a daily basis but not so much
that the adults were idle. I hope I'm making sense.
And on a another note I just saw Lizzie Borden Took an Axe with Christine
Ricci in it and the outfit she's wearing through most of the movie's day of the
murder just seems wrong to me. Is it supposed to be an underdress because it's
hot or a housedress or a fantasy?
Cassandra
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