ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Nutty Productions "Creepy" Victorian Era Rules That Will Make You Cringe
Rules are a part of life, even if we don’t always like them. The Victorian era, often seen as a time of elegance and refinement, was actually filled with some pretty strange customs. Let’s dive into some of the odd practices from this period, like wife auctions and grave robbing, which were a result of society trying to keep up with rapid changes.
Imagine you’re watching a game or playing video games, and your partner asks you to do chores. In the Victorian era, things were a bit more extreme. Before the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1857, getting a divorce in England was super expensive and complicated, so only the rich could afford it. This led to the strange practice of wife auctions, where husbands would take their wives to markets and fairs and sell them to the highest bidder. This practice, which lasted from the 1600s to the mid-1800s, was a way for couples to separate when divorce wasn’t an option. Surprisingly, it sometimes gave women more freedom, as it marked the end of one marriage and the start of another. Prices for these “sales” varied widely, from a pint of beer to 25 shillings.
If you think wife auctions were odd, wait until you hear about bathing machines. During the Victorian era, modesty was a big deal, so women used bathing machines to change into their swimsuits without being seen. These were little huts on wheels that were pulled into the water, allowing women to swim away from the prying eyes of men on the beach. Even Queen Victoria had her own bathing machine! These became popular at resorts as more people started enjoying leisure time.
Dating in the Victorian era came with its own set of weird rules. Before 1823, you had to be 23 to marry, but then the age was lowered to 12 for girls and 14 for boys, although most people married around 18. For wealthy families, a girl’s coming-out party was a big deal, marking her as ready for marriage. Young women attended social events with chaperones, and men had to follow strict rules when courting. They couldn’t just ask a woman to dance; they needed permission from the host. To flirt, men and women exchanged calling cards with notes, a process called “making love,” which simply meant trying to start a romantic relationship.
The Victorian era also had some creepy medical practices. Until 1832, grave robbing was legal, and body snatchers would sell bodies to medical schools for dissection. The Anatomy Act of 1832 made it illegal to dig up corpses, but the practice continued in secret because medical schools desperately needed bodies for research.
In 1864, the Contagious Diseases Act was introduced to control the spread of diseases, especially among soldiers. Unfortunately, it unfairly targeted women, who were forced to undergo invasive medical exams. Women suspected of being sex workers had to register with the police, and if they didn’t, they could be jailed. This law didn’t hold men accountable, leading to protests and its repeal in 1886, thanks to activists like Josephine Butler.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed learning about these strange historical practices, be sure to explore more intriguing insights from the past.
Imagine you are living in the Victorian era. Create a short skit with your classmates where you act out a scene involving one of the strange customs, like a wife auction or a social event with strict dating rules. This will help you understand the social dynamics and the impact of these practices on people’s lives.
Participate in a class debate about the pros and cons of Victorian customs, such as wife auctions or the Contagious Diseases Act. Take a stance and use historical evidence to support your arguments. This will enhance your critical thinking and public speaking skills.
Work in groups to create a newspaper from the Victorian era. Include articles about wife auctions, bathing machines, and other peculiar practices. Design advertisements and write editorials to express opinions of the time. This activity will improve your research and writing skills.
Design a board game that incorporates Victorian customs and rules. Include challenges related to dating rules, grave robbing, and societal norms. This will help you creatively engage with the historical content and understand the complexities of Victorian society.
Choose a Victorian-era activist, like Josephine Butler, and research their contributions to changing societal norms. Present your findings to the class, highlighting how their efforts impacted laws and customs. This will deepen your understanding of social change and activism.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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[Music] Rules are something we all have to follow, whether we want to or not. History, literature, and pop culture often portray the Victorian era as a golden standard of living, but it was a time filled with peculiar practices. For instance, during this period, some men auctioned off their spouses, and grave robbing was not uncommon, as society was adjusting to rapid industrialization.
[Music] Imagine watching a football game with friends or playing a video game while your partner reminds you to cut the grass. In the Victorian era, however, a husband could auction off his wife to the highest bidder. Before the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1857, divorce in England was prohibitively expensive and complicated, accessible only to the elite. King Henry VIII even founded the Anglican Church to obtain a divorce. As a result, wife auctions emerged in the UK from the 1600s to the mid-1800s, where husbands would bring their wives to markets and fairs, often with a harness around their necks, like cattle. The origins of this practice are unclear, but it likely stemmed from the legal rights husbands had over their wives, even in cases of separation. While this practice seems outrageous, it sometimes provided women with more freedom, as it publicly marked the end of one marriage and the beginning of another. The prices varied, with some women sold for as little as a pint of beer, while others fetched around 25 shillings.
[Music] If you thought that was strange, consider the bathing machines invented during this time. To prevent women from showing too much skin, bathing machines were little huts on wheels that allowed women to change into their bathing suits out of sight. These machines were pulled into the water, allowing women to swim without being seen by men on the beach. Even Queen Victoria had her own bathing machine, and they became popular at resorts as leisure time began to emerge for the upper classes.
[Music] Dating in the Victorian era was also filled with peculiar rules. Before 1823, the legal age to marry was 23, but it was lowered to 12 for girls and 14 for boys. However, most people married later, around 18. For wealthy families, a girl’s coming-out party was a significant event, where she was presented to society as eligible for marriage. Young women attended social events with chaperones, and men had to follow strict rules while courting. They couldn’t directly ask a woman to dance but had to seek permission from the host. To navigate these rules, men and women often exchanged calling cards with flirtatious notes, a process known as “making love,” which simply meant seeking a romantic connection.
[Music] The Victorian era also saw some troubling practices in medicine. Grave robbing was legal until 1832, allowing body snatchers to sell cadavers to medical schools for dissection. The Anatomy Act of 1832 made it illegal to exhume corpses, pushing this practice underground. Body snatchers could earn significant sums, highlighting the desperate need for medical subjects during a time of limited medical knowledge.
[Music] In 1864, the Contagious Diseases Act was enacted to regulate the spread of diseases, particularly among military men. Unfortunately, it led to the unjust targeting of women, who were forced to undergo invasive medical examinations. Women suspected of being sex workers were required to register with the police, and failure to comply could result in imprisonment. This law did not hold men accountable, leading to significant public outcry and its eventual repeal in 1886, thanks in part to activists like Josephine Butler.
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This version maintains the core content while removing any inappropriate language or references.
Victorian – Relating to the period of Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901, known for strict social morals and advancements in industry and culture. – During the Victorian era, literature flourished with authors like Charles Dickens and the Brontë sisters.
Era – A period of time marked by distinctive characteristics, events, or developments. – The Renaissance era was a time of great cultural and artistic achievement in Europe.
Auctions – Public sales in which goods or property are sold to the highest bidder. – In the 18th century, auctions were often used to sell art and rare books to wealthy collectors.
Divorce – The legal dissolution of a marriage by a court or other competent body. – In the past, divorce was rare and often scandalous, especially in high society.
Bathing – The act of washing oneself in water, often considered a luxury in historical contexts. – In ancient Rome, public bathing was a common social activity in large bathhouses.
Machines – Devices or equipment designed to perform specific tasks, often powered by electricity or engines. – The Industrial Revolution introduced machines that transformed manufacturing processes.
Dating – The practice of going out with someone in whom one is romantically interested. – In the 19th century, dating was often supervised and followed strict social conventions.
Rules – Prescribed guidelines or principles governing conduct or procedure. – The rules of chivalry dictated the behavior of knights during the medieval period.
Grave – A place of burial for a dead body, typically a hole dug in the ground and marked by a stone or monument. – The discovery of King Tutankhamun’s grave in 1922 provided valuable insights into ancient Egyptian culture.
Robbing – The act of taking property unlawfully from a person or place by force or threat of force. – Grave robbing was a common crime in the 19th century, as thieves sought valuable artifacts buried with the deceased.
