WITHIN MARRIAGE

Marriage and childrearing where indivisible; indeed, in the mid-19th century reproduction was considered a woman's only correct occupation. Birth control literature was illegal and the average working class wife was either pregnant or breast feeding from wedding day to menopause. She would typically have five living children from eight or more pregnancies, as so many children died before the age of five. Infant deaths were especially prevalent amongst the very poor. Far fewer children were born to the upper classes, indicating that some educated people knew how to avoid pregnancy.

OUTSIDE MARRIAGE

Premarital pregnancy was rare among the upper classes, because girls were chaperoned and their activities controlled. In the middle classes it was fairly rare, and the girl was swiftly married to her seducer or sent away to give birth secretly and the child adopted. Many working class women became pregnant outside of marriage; however, because of the social stigma, the fear of losing their paid work, and lack of money to raise the child, many concealed the pregnancy.

If, as was common, a domestic servant became pregnant as a result of seduction by her employer, sometimes the family expelled the girl from the house, but if the seducer was working class the couple was often pressurised into marrying.

Throughout the 19th century many new-born babies were found abandoned, usually strangled or smothered. If the mother was traced she was charged with murder and tried by a male judge and all-male jury. In a large number of cases the woman had been persuaded or tricked into sexual activity. The Courts made no attempt to trace the father, causing occasional angry outbursts by women in courtrooms.