ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Women in the Victorian era

During the Victorian era, which was around 200 years ago, men and women had different roles in society. Women were expected to stay home and take care of the household, while men went out to work and provide for the family. Women were not allowed to go to school, work or vote. They had to be obedient to their husbands and fathers and were not allowed to make decisions on their own.

Victorian women also had strict rules about how they should dress and behave. They had to wear long dresses, gloves, and hats whenever they left the house. They were not allowed to show any skin, including their ankles or necks. They couldn't wear makeup or do anything to draw attention to themselves.

Women were also not allowed to own property or money of their own. They were completely dependent on their husbands or fathers for financial support. If a woman's husband died, she would have to rely on her sons or other male relatives to take care of her.

Despite all these restrictions, some women in the Victorian era were able to make a difference in society. They fought for women's rights and worked to change the laws that held them back. Women like Florence Nightingale became famous for their work in nursing and caring for the sick.

Overall, the life of a woman in the Victorian era was very different from what we know today. Women had very few rights and were limited in what they could do. However, some brave women were able to make a difference and pave the way for the women's rights movement that would come later.