victorian morality

[Maggott]

Prim & proper Victorians seem to have been a myth- contemporary newspapers are full of reports of crimes, Mayhew records sweat-shop workrs being forced into prostitution to feed themselves/their families.  Churches may have had middle -class congregants but really poor people were often illiterate with no real knowledge of religion. Add to this lot lousy housing, poor food & inadequate/un-affordable medicine why should they have been particularly moral
Maggott

[Paul]

I don't think immorality has anything to do with class.
I just think the upper class's are better at it than me.

Paul

[Maggott]

Paul  Of course it doesn't, but 'upper class' people had less excuse for behaving badly as they -presumably- had been exposed to moral teaching at school or at a place of worship.  The poor s*ds at the bottom of the pile had more to bother about than behaving decently.  And yes, of course many of them lived respectable, hard-working lives. 
Maggott

[Necromancer]

Good topic Steammill.

I like Polls ! 

[skymoo]

I have been having a giggle with myself since yesterday over this subject (although not technically Victorian).  It would appear my grandfather and great Uncle would have been born 'out of wedlock' at the beginning of the 1900's   I have had conversations with my mum about this who is adamant that I must get copies of their certificates (I agree) but is equally adamant there will be a fathers name on there (not so agree).  She says that her Grandmother MUST have married someone with the same surname as it was such a disgrace to have...and keep...children at that time when a woman wasnt married.  I won't even use the word she used to describe such an awful thing    My problem is that when said birth certificates arrive how will I break the news to her if there isnt a fathers name on there 

[lesleyhannah]

She says that her Grandmother MUST have married someone with the same surname as it was such a disgrace to have...and keep...children at that time when a woman wasnt married.  I won't even use the word she used to describe such an awful thing    My problem is that when said birth certificates arrive how will I break the news to her if there isnt a fathers name on there 

My mum was the same when I first broke the news that not only was her mother illegitimate, but also a great many other members of her family. Mum had always believed we were 'poor but respectable' - and I was told I was the first to disgrace the family by 'having to get married'. Soon dispelled that myth!!

[Shropshire Lass]

I don't know if we're more or less moral - but we're a lot less hypocritical!

Monica

[trish251]

I don't know if we're more or less moral - but we're a lot less hypocritical!

Monica

That seems to follow my ideas Monica 

In relation to the current level of births outside marriage from Stan - this is surely very much related to how people are now treated. When I was young it was considered that if a lass became pregnant her boyfriend would marry her as soon as possible - otherwise there was a high chance that the babe would be adopted. Apart from family there was very little support given to an unmarried mother.

I haven't found many children born outside of marriage in my Victorian families - but close to  50% of them appear to have had their first child less than 9 months after the marriage. In modern times, many of these marriages may not have taken place.

Trish

[meles]

I was told I was the first to disgrace the family by 'having to get married'. Soon dispelled that myth!!

So not disgracing the family, but upholding a family tradition. 

Been there, done that!   

meles