The Victorian Era refers to the period from 1837 to 1901, during which Queen Victoria ruled the United Kingdom.
Historians believe it is challenging to find another historical era that is as controversial and frequently depicted in various publications, such as films and literature. However, it must be acknowledged that this period is considered famous for its many strict and rather peculiar rules.
Children Rarely Saw Their Parents
Unlike children today, during the Victorian era, children spent the majority of their time with nannies. They were required to wake up early, or they would be labeled as lazy. Many children saw their parents no more than once a day; however, in some families, parents still cared about their children and took time to help them with their studies.
During this period, children spent most of their time with nannies instead of their parents.
Intelligence Was Not Considered a Strength for Women
This may seem hard to believe today, but it was a widely accepted view a century ago. Some even believed that studying science was harmful to a girl’s delicate body, particularly her reproductive system.
Lady Caroline Lamb, who lived during this era, recalled that she was not taught to read or write until the age of 10 because her parents feared she would suffer from nervous seizures. The father of future mathematician Jane Somerville also worried about his daughter’s mental state when he found out she was reading books at night.
Daughters Were Unaware of Where Babies Came From
While sex education is considered one of the important knowledge areas today, girls in the past were completely kept in the dark about this topic.
Writer Marie Stopes, born in 1880, noted that her mother was an educated woman who graduated from university and fought for women’s rights, yet her daughter knew nothing about marriage. Marie married at 31, and two years later, thanks to reading books, she realized that she and her husband had never crossed the boundaries of a pure relationship.
Strange Beauty Practices
In the mid-19th century, Gothic culture became popular and significantly influenced fashion. To achieve a pale complexion, women resorted to incredible beauty methods such as sucking on lead pencils, drinking vinegar, and dyeing their veins to obtain a ghostly white skin tone and dark lips.
Fasting Trends
During this period, many groups of young girls suddenly refused to eat, believing they could survive without food. Doctors at the time considered these strange behaviors a form of deception. However, modern historians tend to believe that these young girls may have suffered from anorexia nervosa.
Marriage Timing Regulations
During this period, holding a wedding at noon was illegal.
During this era, it was somehow illegal to hold a wedding at noon. A book published in 1863 also mentioned this issue. Although the book spans over 400 pages, there is no explanation for this unique rule.
