British daily life in Victorian era
In the Victorian era, Britain was a country with a strong social hierarchy and social inequality. Due to the development of industrialization and the rapid development of the British economy, life in the UK has undergone great changes. The early cities of Victoria were full of unemployment, poverty, riots and slums. Women and children work in harsh conditions. The mid-Victoria period is a period of prosperity, stability and power.[1]
| 1837–1901 | |
| Monarch(s) | Victoria |
|---|---|
Social status[edit]
The Victorian social class includes the upper class, the middle class and the working class. [2]
Upper class[edit]
The upper-class people live a relaxed life, they do not need physical labor. They have a prominent position, strong power, and better living conditions.These nobles did not make a living like other classes, they never lack money. Since they are the owners of the land, they only need to hire workers at the bottom of the society to create wealth for their work. The upper class is well dressed, has many servants, and often goes on vacation, the children are well educated and have expensive toys.Due to the rapid growth of cities and economies, many new bourgeoisie emerged, with decent jobs and considerable income.
Due to the development of industrialization, a large number of emerging industries require labor.Women of the upper class have become a symbol of the social status of others, mainly responsible for family life and organizing dinner for friends and family. In education, people who belong to wealthy families also have the best counselors to provide education.[3]
Middle class[edit]
The Victorian middle class is very prosperous. The tremendous changes brought about by the industrial revolution have made their lives better. The revolution has brought more job opportunities and a decent life.
The middle class of the 19th century was an extremely broad group, defined by their profession rather than income. For middle class, servants are essential, even the poorest middle-class families have one servant.
The Victorian middle class can be divided into the upper middle class and the middle middle class. Middle and upper class occupations include bankers, lawyers and large industrialists. Their investment income or profits of more than 1,000 pounds per year.
These people began to pay attention to the education of their children.Their sons will be educated in boarding schools and universities.[4]
The lower middle class includes small shopkeepers and staff, with an annual income of less than 50 pounds per year. As London begins to become the world's commercial and financial center, the white-collar world is rapidly evolving, including clerks, middle managers and lower-level government workers.
Another characteristic that defines the middle class is their values. They have strong professional ethics and believe that by working hard, anyone can improve their status. Being respected is another pursuit of their hard work.
Other good qualities expected by middle-class families include sobriety, frugality, ambition and punctuality. They cannot tolerate laziness. Even if they don't work, they want to make the most of their leisure time.[5][6][7]
Working class[edit]
The conditions of the working class are very bad in the early Victorian. They had no valuable things. They can only eat the food they can afford. They work long hours in factories, mines, factories and terminals.[8] Many children die from diseases.These poor people live in crowded rooms and often lack all the basic amenities, such as clean drinking water, fresh air and food. They work hard, but the wages paid to these workers are not enough to survive.[9]
Most of the jobs are in urban centers and industrial centers, and the working class relies on walking without transportation in early Victorian.People's travel has changed due to the development of transportation technology. In the 1950s, commuter train lines were established and parliamentary policies were used to protect workers' discount fares. However, in 1890s, the lives of the workers had been greatly improved, and the houses were spacious with clean water and natural gas. They have more and more entertainment activities, and the seaside town is also a working class holiday resort. Richer workers can also let his children go to school.
But in the late Victoria, many workers lost their jobs because of the tremendous development of machinery.[10]
Diet[edit]
In the 19th century, the diet of the poor was healthier than the rich.[11] Quality foods obtained in rural areas are usually better than wealthy cities. Most poor people's food is very healthy, such as potatoes, vegetables, whole wheat, milk and fish. At the same time, the rich can eat a variety of foods, often eat meat and dairy products, and they also eat a lot of unhealthy food. In the Victorian era, sugar consumption increased dramatically, causing tooth decay and health problems. But the poor do not have these problems.The nutritional level of urban workers is significantly lower than that of the upper class.The food purchased by workers is limited to bread, cheese, butter, sugar, tea, salt and potatoes. In the daily diet, bread is the main source of their nutrition, protein and fat are seriously inadequate.
In the 1880s, workers' food budgets fell by 30 percent, and they could enjoy jams, milk, butter, eggs and coffee.
During the Victorian period, due to the development of culture and art, the upper class focused on the refined taste of life. The custom of drinking afternoon tea is an example. In the aristocratic social circle of the 1940s, ladies listened to melodious classical music in the gorgeous living room, tasted fine tea sets and tasted the most delicious snacks. This is the most typical Victorian afternoon tea, gradually becoming a civilian and everyday, and has become a British cultural form.[12][13]
Etiquette[edit]
The Victorian English strictly adhere to the complicated etiquette. Because of the distinct social hierarchy, people in the upper middle class must understand and implement the etiquette and etiquette that conforms to their status. For the lower classes, they have no time to consider etiquette for the sake of survival.[14] [15]
Gentleman[edit]
When gentlemen talk to women, they should choose topics that women might be interested in. When gentlemen meet acquaintances, it is absolutely unacceptable to simply nod and touch the hat. Politeness requires men to always take off their hats from their heads. When greeting a woman in this way, always lift the hat with the hand farthest from her. The gentlemen will never smoke in front of the ladies. In fact, it is impolite for a woman to chat while a gentleman is smoking, which forces a man to extinguish the cigar. While riding a carriage, the gentlemen never sits next to an unrelated woman, they always sits back to the horse and gives the opposite seat to the lady. A gentleman also had to be careful not to step on the lady's clothes, he had to get off the bus to help a lady.The gentlemen also pay attention to the clothing. In the morning, they wear a slightly unsuitable work jacket, a double-breasted waist coat and light or dark pants depending on the season. Gentlemen's evening gowns should always be black and paired with an elegant white bow tie.[16]
Lady[edit]
Ladies should avoid using slang and puns in conversations. They should not indulge in long debates, talk about religion, and don't interrupt those who are talking. Ladies should keep abreast of current events, but don't discuss things they don't understand. They should always avoid gossip and whispering.
Young unmarried women who are not accompanied by others should not go out. Etiquette prohibits ladies from hanging out and chatting on the streets, because the streets are sinful and dirty gathering places.
Correct wearing is also important for women. The Victorian fashion trend has become refined and elegant. The ladies' wardrobe is covered in different styles of skirts that can handle balls, dinners, walks and carriages. In the Victorian era, cage crinoline were a symbol of fashion, and every lady of the upper class had one. This lightweight steel strap is made of a semi-spherical cage crinoline that supports the skirt and makes it convenient to go to the toilet, but at the same time the lady must learn to be elegant. The most unique Victorian outfit is a corset. These corsets keep people straightforward and show their self-esteem. In prisons and almshouses, corsets are fitted dresses. In order to be healthy, doctors at the time also believed that corsets could help women support internal organs.[17]
Disease[edit]
The biggest cause of death in the Victorian era was infectious diseases. Most of these diseases, such as smallpox, tuberculosis and flu, are ancient viruses. But in 1831, the United Kingdom suffered the first cholera epidemic, which was found to be spread by sewage. There are two main reasons for the rapid spread of tuberculosis. The first is the air pollution caused by the industrial revolution. The second is the rapid urbanization that allows more and more people to flood into the city. The urban sanitation environment cannot be carried, and the city is dirty.It is even caused a great stink in London. Women who wear underwear for a long time are more likely to develop tuberculosis. They are not breathing enough and lack exercise. Skirts are also very unhealthy for health. The huge and complicated skirts are not conducive to air circulation. The long skirts that are dragged on the ground are easy to get dirty and become a breeding ground for bacteria.
In the 19th century, scarlet fever was also a serious epidemic, causing major casualties. Workers are also facing serious health problems, and the harmful fumes released by the factory are inhaled, which is especially fatal for child labor.
In slums, prostitutes infected with syphilis transmit the virus to their clients. Children are deeply affected by childhood diseases such as measles, mumps, diphtheria and rubella.[18]
Public security[edit]
The industrial revolution has brought enormous pressure on society, leading to violence and chaos. Stealing and robbery are the most irritating crimes, and thieves stealing property are not uncommon on the street. Burglary has also occurred from time to time, especially when the middle class and the rich are on holiday in the summer.Victoria's early British crime rate was high, but in 1829, Robert Peel sponsored the Metropolitan Police Act, establishing the first uniformed police force and effectively improving the city's public safety. Although the crime rate is declining, some criminal incidents in the mid-to-late 19th century were highly publicized, triggering social unrest. For example, in 1888, a killer known as " Jack the Ripper" brutally killed five prostitutes in London.
The public realm of the city is considered dangerous and corrupt and prone to crime. Anyone is susceptible to diseases from slums. Women are not allowed to go to the streets at will, and are easily considered to be prostitutes or disadvantaged professional women, and this group is a victim of that kind of social environment.[19] [20]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Victorian Era Economy". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "Social Life in Victorian England". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "Victorian Era Upper Class: Men and Women's Life". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "Everyday life in the Industrial Era". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "Victorian Era Society and Social Class Structure". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "The Victorian Child and the Middle/Upper Class Family". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "The Rise of the Middle Classes". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "DAILY LIFE". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "Victorian Times London: Living Conditions, Population, People". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "Women and Urban Life in Victorian Britain". Lynda Nead.
- ↑ "In Victorian Britain, poor rural areas had the best diet and health". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "VICTORIANS: FOOD AND HEALTH". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "Health and Diet". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "Victorian Etiquette". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ MCGRATH, JANE. "10 Ridiculous Victorian Etiquette Rules". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "Etiquette". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "THE SOCIAL HISTORIAN". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ Picard, Liza. "Health and hygiene in the 19th century". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ Churchill, David (28 August 2015). "Security and Visions of the Criminal: Technology, Professional Criminality and Social Change in Victorian and Edwardian Britain". 56: Pages 857–876. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ↑ "JACK THE RIPPER 1888". Retrieved 4 June 2019.
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