In the past when a young girl from the upper class was 18 years old or even younger the family was looking for a suitable husband because she had to marry ! She needed a husband who took care of her, when the parents had passed away because she was not allowed to work for money only for charity. She couldn't stay single either this was just impossible for her reputation. There were not many choices for women at that time, she could become a private teacher, or living as an old maid with a member of her family but lots of parents just put the girl in a convent her whole life, at least there she was dressed and fed. A rather very sad perspective if it was not her own choice. Single women had a hard life except when they were born very rich and were the only child. But for the majority it was a rather sad existence when they were average looking and not a beauty.
Fortunately today for a woman being single is no longer a lack of options – but a choice. A choice to refuse to let your life be defined by your relationship status but to live every day happily and decide for yourself what to do and how to live.
Husband hunting ....
Linking to Linda G. Hills
SOCS - ingle
Fortunately we're well past that.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it was all they knew and most would have little ambition the way women do now. For some, it must have been very hard. Great header photo by the way.
ReplyDeleteHistory is one my fav subject. But have no desire to live in those old days.
ReplyDeleteThanks goodness we don't live in the 19th century any more.
ReplyDelete