In Britain in the 18 and 19 centuries, why didn't most older women get married?

/kloc-in the second half of the 0/8th century, the industrial revolution first took place in Britain, followed by earth-shaking social changes. With the rapid development of economy, the population of Britain is also growing steadily. Until19th century. In the whole19th century, there were more women than men in Britain. 185 1 British census data show that there are 500,000 more women than men. The imbalance between men and women is closely related to a large number of male immigrants overseas.

Since the industrial revolution, the pace of British foreign expansion has been accelerating, and a colonial empire has been established. Colonies became the main destination of British immigrants. At that time, the British government believed that overseas immigration would help to open overseas markets and alleviate social contradictions brought about by rapid population growth, so it took a positive attitude towards overseas immigration. Young men account for the majority of the overseas immigrant population.

According to the General History of Britain edited by Qian Chengdan, 187 1- 1900, two-thirds of the immigrants from England and Wales were men. After the immigration climax of 19 in the 1950s, the sex ratio of the 25-29 age group in England dropped from 185 1000: 906 to 185 1000: 879. During this period, the proportion of unmarried women aged 45-49 in England was the highest, at 1/5. The serious imbalance of the sex ratio between men and women makes women encounter the embarrassing problem that no one can choose and have to remain single.

02.

The influence of marriage view

Like most times, 18 and 19 th century British marriage principles also include? Is it appropriate? The upper and middle classes tend to look for marriage partners in the same class. The upper class has an incomparable superior position to the middle class and has a wide range of choices. The middle class pays more attention to the spouse's property when choosing a spouse, and increasing family wealth is regarded as the marriage task of middle-class women.

(18th century British portrait, female gentle and quiet, the picture comes from the Internet)

Middle-class women's choice of spouse is very small, and the men they choose are also choosers. Relatively poor middle-class women are often unpopular. Middle-class women who can't find a marriage partner of the same class are unwilling to make do, and men of the lower class are usually out of their consideration, even if the marriage of the lower class doesn't care so much about property and status.

Getting older is becoming more and more difficult for women to get married, because people at that time were generally tired of the marriage where their wives were older than their husbands. This also leads to unmarried older women mainly concentrated in the middle class, many of whom are unmarried for life.

03.

Married women have limited rights and interests.

In addition to the influence of male shortage and utilitarian marriage concept, the situation of married women also makes some women voluntarily remain single. In the 18 and 19 centuries, more and more women have achieved employment, and their working ability can not be ignored, but their wages are far less than those of men, and they have to bear the burden of their families while suffering from labor oppression.

At that time, British law did not recognize that married women had independent personality and identity. Once married, women lose the existence of the law and become attached to their husbands. Legally, all the labor income of a married woman belongs to her husband.

(19th century British portrait, mother gives birth to a new child, picture from the Internet)

If you are unhappy, it is impossible to choose divorce. The Matrimonial Proceedings Act promulgated by British Parliament 1857 recognizes the legality of divorce, but the only premise of this law is adultery. If a woman wants a divorce, she must prove that her husband has committed adultery, and the nature is very bad. It is difficult for a woman to get a divorce smoothly. Moreover, the law stipulates that the child is the husband's, and only when the husband does not have children can women have custody. Some women are reluctant to enter marriage because of the difficulties they may face after marriage.

Two people are married, but there are many things involved. In the 18 and 19 centuries, the popular social concept in Britain regarded unmarried older women as a problematic group, but the existence of this group itself was closely related to the social concept.