5.2 Victorian values and moral codes

The Victorian era was all about keeping up appearances. Respectability ruled supreme, with strict codes of behavior and etiquette governing every aspect of life. Slip up, and you risked social exile. It wasn't just about manners though.

Victorians valued hard work, self-improvement, and helping others. The rich set up charities to aid the poor, while the temperance movement fought against alcohol. But beneath the surface, society grappled with taboo topics and rigid gender roles.

Victorian Morality and Values

Respectability and Etiquette

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• Victorian society placed great emphasis on respectability, which encompassed proper behavior, morality, and adherence to social norms
• Respectability was closely tied to one's social standing and reputation in the community
• Strict codes of etiquette governed social interactions, including proper forms of address, conversation topics, and behavior in public and private settings
• Failure to adhere to these norms could result in social ostracism and a loss of respectability

Prudishness and Sexual Repression

• Victorian era is often associated with prudishness, characterized by a strict avoidance of discussions or displays of sexuality
• Sexual matters were considered taboo topics, and open discussions of sex were frowned upon
• This prudishness extended to literature and art, with censorship of works deemed too explicit or suggestive
• However, beneath this veneer of propriety, Victorian society grappled with issues such as prostitution, sexually transmitted diseases, and a double standard that allowed men greater sexual freedom than women

Work Ethic and Self-Help

• Victorians placed a high value on hard work and self-reliance, believing that success and social advancement could be achieved through individual effort
• The concept of self-help, popularized by writers such as Samuel Smiles, encouraged people to improve themselves through education, discipline, and perseverance
• The Protestant work ethic, which emphasized the virtues of hard work, thrift, and delayed gratification, was a prominent feature of Victorian society
• This emphasis on self-improvement and personal responsibility was reflected in the proliferation of self-help books, lectures, and organizations during the period

Social Reform and Philanthropy

Philanthropic Efforts

• The Victorian era saw a surge in philanthropic activities, as wealthy individuals and organizations sought to address social problems and improve the lives of the less fortunate
• Philanthropists established charities, hospitals, schools, and other institutions to provide assistance to the poor, sick, and disadvantaged
• Notable examples of Victorian philanthropists include Angela Burdett-Coutts, who funded numerous charitable projects, and Thomas Barnardo, who established homes for destitute children
• Philanthropic efforts were often motivated by a sense of Christian duty and a desire to alleviate the suffering caused by rapid industrialization and urbanization

Temperance Movement and Evangelical Revival

• The temperance movement, which advocated for the reduction or elimination of alcohol consumption, gained significant traction during the Victorian era
• Temperance advocates viewed alcohol as a major cause of social problems, such as poverty, crime, and family breakdown
• The movement was closely linked to the evangelical revival, a religious movement that emphasized personal piety, moral reform, and social activism
• Evangelical Christians played a prominent role in the temperance movement, establishing organizations such as the Band of Hope and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union to promote abstinence from alcohol
• The temperance movement's influence can be seen in the establishment of alcohol-free public houses (coffee houses) and the passage of legislation restricting the sale and consumption of alcohol

Gender Roles and Expectations

Separate Spheres Ideology

• Victorian society was characterized by a strict division of gender roles, known as the separate spheres ideology
• This ideology prescribed distinct roles and expectations for men and women, with men occupying the public sphere of work, politics, and commerce, and women relegated to the private sphere of the home and family
• Women were expected to be dutiful wives, caring mothers, and moral guardians of the household, embodying the ideals of domesticity, purity, and submissiveness
• Men were expected to be breadwinners, providing for their families and participating in public life
• The separate spheres ideology was reinforced through education, literature, and social norms, which emphasized the inherent differences between men and women and the importance of maintaining traditional gender roles
• However, this ideology was increasingly challenged by women who sought greater opportunities for education, employment, and political participation, leading to the emergence of the women's rights movement in the later Victorian period