the woman question and the gothic
Apr. 30th, 2007 04:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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darkling_talesLJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY dfordoom)
The late 19th century was the era of the “New Woman” and the period when “the woman question” had become a matter of social and political concern. Feminism was reviving, and the role of women in society became a matter for debate. The late 19th century was also a time when the medical profession was busily turning homosexuality into a medical problem that demanded treatment, and doctors were also busily cataloguing the newly emerging growth area of mental illness. Social stability seemed to be menaced, and the traditional family to be under threat. This was an age of anxiety.
There was at the same time a major flowering of gothic literature.
Do you have any favourite late 19th century gothic novels or stories that reflect these anxieties about women and sexuality, and the social role of women? Dracula would seem to be an obvious example, with major anxiety about Lucy’s sexuality!
dfordoom)The late 19th century was the era of the “New Woman” and the period when “the woman question” had become a matter of social and political concern. Feminism was reviving, and the role of women in society became a matter for debate. The late 19th century was also a time when the medical profession was busily turning homosexuality into a medical problem that demanded treatment, and doctors were also busily cataloguing the newly emerging growth area of mental illness. Social stability seemed to be menaced, and the traditional family to be under threat. This was an age of anxiety.
There was at the same time a major flowering of gothic literature.
Do you have any favourite late 19th century gothic novels or stories that reflect these anxieties about women and sexuality, and the social role of women? Dracula would seem to be an obvious example, with major anxiety about Lucy’s sexuality!
