Sexuality
Shepard, Leslie. "Prudishness in the 19th Century." Folk Music Journal 2.1 (1970): 45. JSTOR. Web. 6 Mar. 2014.
This piece is a “Letter to the Editor” in response to a previously published review of An Analytical Index to the Ballad Entries. Shepard comments particularly on “Prudishness in the 19th Century” and how the conventions of marriage and sexuality remained puritanical in society, as radical ideas were still “heresies” despite the developments in women’s suffrage. She also connects this idea with the matter of public vs. private figures. The letter provides good insight into the outlandishness of promiscuity or overt sexuality during the late 19th century – a “rule” that seems to apply to married individuals as well. Because the letter is in response to a review on a book that is presumably about erotic music during the time period, Shepard shifts the topic from the general sense of prudishness to details that must have been addressed in the book; this portion of the letter is fairly irrelevant to specific research on sexuality in marriage, but helps Shepard make her point. The author has created a clear voice in the letter in which her passion for this subject comes through. (KC)
This piece is a “Letter to the Editor” in response to a previously published review of An Analytical Index to the Ballad Entries. Shepard comments particularly on “Prudishness in the 19th Century” and how the conventions of marriage and sexuality remained puritanical in society, as radical ideas were still “heresies” despite the developments in women’s suffrage. She also connects this idea with the matter of public vs. private figures. The letter provides good insight into the outlandishness of promiscuity or overt sexuality during the late 19th century – a “rule” that seems to apply to married individuals as well. Because the letter is in response to a review on a book that is presumably about erotic music during the time period, Shepard shifts the topic from the general sense of prudishness to details that must have been addressed in the book; this portion of the letter is fairly irrelevant to specific research on sexuality in marriage, but helps Shepard make her point. The author has created a clear voice in the letter in which her passion for this subject comes through. (KC)
prudishness.pdf | |
File Size: | 93 kb |
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Rosenberg, Charles E. "Sexuality, Class and Role in 19th Century America." American Quarterly 25.2 (1973): 131-53. JSTOR. Web. 9 Mar. 2014.
Rosenberg evaluates the 19th century sentiment toward sexuality and gender roles, noting that much of the biological literature on the topic stresses the inconsistency of societal views. The author claims that all sexuality and impulse was still repressed, as most tried to enforce chastity and prudishness on all people – even those who were unwilling or already married. Chastity within marriage was actually a common trend, since individuals were warned that excessive sex could cause a myriad of diseases, weakness, or infertility; it was suggested that all people remain celibate until at least 25. Yet, despite this negative view of overt or unnecessary expression of sexuality, women were also told that if they were sexually unresponsive to their husbands that men would find affection from other women. In yet another contradiction, maidenhood and celibate bachelorhood were seen as unnatural and unbecoming ways of living. Rosenberg also discusses the prescribed sex and gender roles of the time and how it relates to class/social status. The overarching themes between sex, marriage, and gender roles seem to be control over sexuality with marriage, the maintenance of social order, and the sought-after appearance of respectability. The article is organized well, and moves seamlessly from sexuality to class and gender roles. I found Rosenberg’s writing to be easily navigable and comprehendible, but repetitive and verbose at times. Overall the article is a reliable and comprehensive source in terms of uncovering the views of sexuality within and outside of marriage and the gender roles that shaped such views. (KC)
Rosenberg evaluates the 19th century sentiment toward sexuality and gender roles, noting that much of the biological literature on the topic stresses the inconsistency of societal views. The author claims that all sexuality and impulse was still repressed, as most tried to enforce chastity and prudishness on all people – even those who were unwilling or already married. Chastity within marriage was actually a common trend, since individuals were warned that excessive sex could cause a myriad of diseases, weakness, or infertility; it was suggested that all people remain celibate until at least 25. Yet, despite this negative view of overt or unnecessary expression of sexuality, women were also told that if they were sexually unresponsive to their husbands that men would find affection from other women. In yet another contradiction, maidenhood and celibate bachelorhood were seen as unnatural and unbecoming ways of living. Rosenberg also discusses the prescribed sex and gender roles of the time and how it relates to class/social status. The overarching themes between sex, marriage, and gender roles seem to be control over sexuality with marriage, the maintenance of social order, and the sought-after appearance of respectability. The article is organized well, and moves seamlessly from sexuality to class and gender roles. I found Rosenberg’s writing to be easily navigable and comprehendible, but repetitive and verbose at times. Overall the article is a reliable and comprehensive source in terms of uncovering the views of sexuality within and outside of marriage and the gender roles that shaped such views. (KC)
sexuality_class_and_role.pdf | |
File Size: | 1980 kb |
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Bourke, Joanna. "Sexual Violence, Marital Guidance, and Victorian Bodies: An Aesthesiology ." Victorian Studies. 50.3 (2008): 419-436. Web. 4 Mar. 2014.
URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40060365
Bourke’s essay takes a look into the sexual relations between husbands and wives in the Victorian Era. Bourke examines the commonly accepted marital precedents, set by the current laws, literature, and accepted practice of male sexual aggression within marriages. The essay discusses the ways in which Victorian women were subjected to various sexual transgression, mainly by their own husbands, as there was not legislation or even a social standard to protect them from abuse. In particular, marital rape became an issue, as sexual violence was considered harmful not only to the female victims but to the marriage as a whole. As sexual violence within marriages became a public issue, marital relations underwent scrutiny and reform. It remained widely accepted that women were more reluctant to participate in intercourse than men, which led marital violence to remain a risk until the 1960s. However, the more open psychological dialogue allowed for couples to begin to have the tools to negotiate a more mutually satisfying relations. [Lovell]
URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40060365
Bourke’s essay takes a look into the sexual relations between husbands and wives in the Victorian Era. Bourke examines the commonly accepted marital precedents, set by the current laws, literature, and accepted practice of male sexual aggression within marriages. The essay discusses the ways in which Victorian women were subjected to various sexual transgression, mainly by their own husbands, as there was not legislation or even a social standard to protect them from abuse. In particular, marital rape became an issue, as sexual violence was considered harmful not only to the female victims but to the marriage as a whole. As sexual violence within marriages became a public issue, marital relations underwent scrutiny and reform. It remained widely accepted that women were more reluctant to participate in intercourse than men, which led marital violence to remain a risk until the 1960s. However, the more open psychological dialogue allowed for couples to begin to have the tools to negotiate a more mutually satisfying relations. [Lovell]
Matthews, Christopher. "Love at First Sight: The Velocity of Victorian Heterosexuality." Victorian Studies. 46.3 (2004): 425-454. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.
URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3829668
This essay examines the concept of “love at first sight” in terms of the heterosexual relationships of the Victorian Era. Love at first sight became a popular trope in the early 1800s, and focused mainly on the male sense of attraction and desire. The essay examines the social conventions of love at first sight, as well as courtship, which were both dominated by male sexuality. Women, on the other hand, were considered virginal trophies for the conquering male hero. While the concept of love at first sight was romanticized, it clearly cast women as mere objects for men to pursue, as by nature it required men to desire women based on physical appearance alone. The essay claims that it was accepted that the meetings that lead to love at first sight were based on novelty and that novelty is a result of the separation of the genders. While the sexes were not completely separated, thus negating some of the afore mentioned novelty, the advances of technology helped to provide more of the novel instances, as transportation made it easier to have more “first sights”. The popularization of railroads for transportation caused railway cars to become a popular setting for love at first sight situations. This acted as the frame for heterosexual male performance, framing women as the object of male desire and fantasy, juxtaposed to masculine sexual desires that formed the basis of “love at first sight”. [Lovell]
URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3829668
This essay examines the concept of “love at first sight” in terms of the heterosexual relationships of the Victorian Era. Love at first sight became a popular trope in the early 1800s, and focused mainly on the male sense of attraction and desire. The essay examines the social conventions of love at first sight, as well as courtship, which were both dominated by male sexuality. Women, on the other hand, were considered virginal trophies for the conquering male hero. While the concept of love at first sight was romanticized, it clearly cast women as mere objects for men to pursue, as by nature it required men to desire women based on physical appearance alone. The essay claims that it was accepted that the meetings that lead to love at first sight were based on novelty and that novelty is a result of the separation of the genders. While the sexes were not completely separated, thus negating some of the afore mentioned novelty, the advances of technology helped to provide more of the novel instances, as transportation made it easier to have more “first sights”. The popularization of railroads for transportation caused railway cars to become a popular setting for love at first sight situations. This acted as the frame for heterosexual male performance, framing women as the object of male desire and fantasy, juxtaposed to masculine sexual desires that formed the basis of “love at first sight”. [Lovell]