After learning about the Gentleman’s Club in the “Victorian Period” game, I decided to look into the “Ladies Club” section of the Victorian Dictionary. There was only one article in the section, and it was by the satirical conservative newspaper Punch. However, through the mockery that they give to the idea, they expose exactly what they fear women obtaining. The Ladies Club did not even actually exist, but the piece speculates on what might occur if it did, and how it’s possible formation incites “fearful questions.” Their first question is if there will be a club committee, and if there is how many women will be allowed to speak at once. This betrays a fear of women organizing and having a voice completely outside the control of men. They then question whether there will be a smoking room, and if “cigars will suffer to be lighted” or, for fear of illness, only “the middlest cigarettes.” Not only does this show disgust at the idea of women adopting a symbol of masculinity for their own pleasure, but it doubts whether they will be able to do that, or if their delicate constitutions would prevent it. They then question what women will discuss. Whether it will be topics they feel appropriate, such as “the nursery” and “bonnets,” or if they will talk of more scandalous matters such as love, marriage, and even divorce. In this question they restrict the interests of women to the domestic life. They do not even consider that women may talk about politics, literature, science, or anything outside of marriage and children. They go on, continuing to trivialize women, and their interests, even suggesting that ballots will be represented by cotton balls instead of actual ballots. Perhaps paper is just too heavy. They predict a woman in the club scorning her husband and leaving him to take care of the children for a night, while she takes time for herself. This practice, which men a known to do, is seen as selfish in a woman because her first concern should be the family and not herself. The last point they make on behavior in the club gives a good insight into the male gaze of the period: “what a sensation would be caused on the street pavement, if the Club belles were to congregate about the Club beau-windows, and stare through their eye-glasses every handsome man who passed.” They are revealing an anxiety about being objectified the same way that they objectify women. The entire article shows a fear, not of equality, but of a world where women have power over men in the same way that men have power over women.
Works Cited
“The Ladies Club” Punch. Victorian London Dictionary. Web. 12 February 2016. http://www.victorianlondon.org/women/ladiesclub.htm
Antonia,
This is a nice way to analyze the entry. The original text was seeping with sarcasm, disdain, and humor… As you pointed out, a nice way to mask a deeper fear. As much as the author seems to belittle women’s conversations, the Ladies Club would take the woman from sphere. It would allow her to have a place with her friends, and, gasp, some autonomy outside the home.
Your comments on delicate constitution and symbols of masculinity are spot on.
I can only imagine the cartoons that would be paired with this article, and the people of the time’s shock at what could take place in a “Ladies Club.” While reading your blog post and the dictionary entry, I thought about the Jane Austen Fight Club.
Nice work!
The article that I picked had to do with satire too. The interesting thing about satire is that it critiques in a revealing way. You were right to point out how your article was really them poking fun at women in order to make light of their fears. Laughter is often used as a method for people to relax and de-stress from the troubles of life. By taking the threatening idea of women with power and turning it into a newspaper gag, the author is able to turn what was seemed as a horrible possibility into a mockery and therefore took away its threatening qualities.
Antonia,
Good analysis of the article. I like your points on women considered to only discuss clothes rather than anything of the Arts and Sciences. Your last point is particularly strong. If men are excited to see a group of women together, it once again shows how women only exist to please men, to be a pretty sight for them. Well done.
-Autumn
Antonia,
What a horror to imagine that people would actually mock the idea of women going out and having a place to gather and at least escape the barriers of domestic life for a little while. I totally agree with your analysis about this showing a way in which society was afraid of women. It is completely appalling how they wouldn’t even consider women discussing intellectual subjects among themselves, or even seeing that a ladies’ club would actually be a great benefit for women. It certainly sees the congregation of women outside of their homes a s a threat, and further exemplifies the lack of feeling for the women’s state of well-being.
~Sara