Women's Life in the Victorian Era ~ Marriage and the Dowry

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A woman's rights during this period were extremely limited. When they married they gained a husband and lost themselves. A marriage agreement quite often was composed of a dowry. This was a crucial part of the marriage for middle and upper classes of that time period. It was seen as an early payment of the daughter's inheritance. Me held all the power in a marriage. Women could not own property, run a business or enter into contracts or sue. Any money the woman made automatically belonged to the husband. It is interesting to note that the amount of the dowry was expected to be in direct proportion to the groom's social status. This made it impossible for a woman of a lower class to marry into upper class families. Some families mortgaged their homes in order to make a suitable dowry. If a couple died with no children, the woman's dowry would be returned to her family. Sometimes wealthy parishioners would provide dowries for poor young women of good reputation as a form of charity. Women had no rights in the case of a divorce. She would not get any part of the money or property accumulated during marriage. Knowing this many women stayed in marriages even when there was abusive behavior. A man could not be charged with any offense against his wife. Marriage was treated as a private jurisdiction upon which any external interference was discouraged. A married woman could not be fully accountable for her actions. If she broke any rules her husband answered for it. A woman was expected to be perfect at all times acting with virtue and dignity. A wives' income no matter how it was earned belonged to her husband. Only men could handle the management. of financial affairs. Ambition and want to earn money was looked upon as being greedy, selfish and morally decaying.