Wife Beating in the Victorian Era *

http://www.hiddenhurt.co.uk

During the Victorian times it was not unusual for men to beat their wives. This only usually caused a stir if they were beaten to the point of near death. It was considered a mans 'right' to beat his wife for her wrong doings, as it was to 'correct' these and prevent her from doing wrong again or disobeying her. Although these beatings were extremely frequent, only the most brutal came to court. Victorian women were raised to believe in the inequality of the sexes, and it was a general belief that wife beating was normal and that women had no right to complain about this treatment. They were raised to believe that occasional beating is what they deserved, as they probably grew up watching their father to the very same to their mother. Men frequently threatened their wives, claiming that if they were to take them to court, the abuse would get worse as part of a lesson not to disobey him. Sending their husband to court would also result in a worse financial situation for the women and her and her children could be put to work in a work house. It was these claims and fears that kept thousands of women from speaking out against domestic abuse in the victorian era.

British Women’s Emancipation since the Renaissance (no date) Available at: http://www.historyofwomen.org/wifebeating.html (Accessed: 4 May 2015)