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Women In The Georgian Era

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The Georgian Era allowed women to have very little personal freedom. The top priority for women at this time was finding a husband. Marriage was at the utmost importance to young women because without a husband, she would not have financial support or obtain any of her family’s wealth after her father dies. Once a woman was married, her husband had almost complete control over her and her property and belongings became his (Betts). They were also supposed to marry at an early age. If they were not married by their early twenties, they would be considered a problem to their family. In addition to marital pressures, women had to deal with the pressure of being considered accomplished. Women were supposed to know how to speak multiple languages, play the piano, be able to sing and dance, and embroider, along with many other things. There was lots of pressure on women to learn these skills and practice enough to excel in them (Bernie). Women of the Georgian Era had very little rights and were considered inferior to men. They were supposed to be quiet, reserved, and keep to themselves. The novel, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is set in the Georgian Era where there were specific roles women played in society. It has several female characters that challenge the social norms of time and do not act like the traditional women of that period. Jane Austen uses her characters Elizabeth, Lydia, and Mrs. Bennett to go against the strict social roles of women of that time period.

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