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The Influence of Scientific Theory on the Life of Woman in Victorian England

According to Suffer and Be Still by Martha Vicinus, early ideas about science and sexuality greatly influenced a Victorian woman’s life. A Victorian woman not only had to worry about being everything that is feminine but she also was burdened with ludicrous ideas about her health and sexuality. Naturally who better to inform women of their health and sexuality than men? I will be examining three factors that influenced a Victorian woman. First the scientific support put forth that women were naturally weaker than men. Second I will look at the idea that women didn’t need or enjoy sex the same way men did during the Victorian period. Third I will explore the effects of prostitution and venereal disease on Victorian women. I will present past theories offered by Victorian doctors and show how they influenced men’s attitudes toward women and women’s perceptions of themselves.

The scientific community put forth and supported the premise that women were weaker then men. The reasons presented for this idea were menstruation, conception and the physical demands of pregnancy. In Victorian times there was very limited knowledge about menstruation. The scientific observation that the menstrual cycle and the chemical changes in a woman’s body during that time can affect behavior is accurate. However to claim that, “the monthlies were . . . read more.