There’s a reason or two why women depicted in nineteenth century novels have only one thing on their minds: marriage. They had nothing else to do and marriage was the most important event in their lives, determining the rest of their future.
As a historical writer, you have to be aware of the restrictions on women during your era and in your place. Could they go out without a chaperone? Were they allowed to study anything?
You can be sure of one thing: restrictions existed. I’m glad I’m alive now and not earlier. I’m glad I live in the country I live in, rather than one in which women are still restricted.
Miriam Drori, Author 
9 replies on “2015 A to Z Challenge: W is for WOMEN”
Indeed! It’s always jarring when a supposedly Victorian heroine nips to the shops, pops in to see a male friend and chats away with the doctor – all by herself!
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🙂
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There are some things about historical novels that chap at my modern day views. Women and their restrictions are among many things. Of course, they wouldn’t be truly historical if they didn’t depict things correctly.
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Quite.
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The same goes for people of color–keeping in mind the different levels of rights, etc. is important.
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And other minorities. Women, of course, have never been a minority.
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Although almost always treated like one!
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It’s so important to keep in mind how a woman of a certain era could’ve gone against the grain in a way which would be plausible within the parameters of that time. The obvious examples I always think of are Scarlett O’Hara and Amber St. Clare, who were gutsy, go-getting women and anything but wilting flowers, while at the same time not going against the basic conventions of their respective eras. Amber, for example, doesn’t flaunt her unwed motherhood, and pretends to be a married woman when she’s expecting her first child at sixteen.
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Absolutely.
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