Touch: changing norms of physical contact between men and women in 18th century England
Philp, Mark
Touch: changing norms of physical contact between men and women in 18th century England - 2023.
76
This paper examines the changing norms regarding touch, particularly between young women of marriageable age and young men in Britain at the end of the 18th century. These emerging norms, related to sociability and ideals of polite society, were largely set and enforced by other women. While they allowed them some freedom from men’s intrusive attempts, these norms were also accompanied by a denial of women’s sexual desire. People who were seen as transgressing these norms risked being excluded from “society”. The discussion draws on a range of memoirs, diaries, novels, conduct books and letters to examine an area of conduct that is rarely the subject of explicit comment.
Touch: changing norms of physical contact between men and women in 18th century England - 2023.
76
This paper examines the changing norms regarding touch, particularly between young women of marriageable age and young men in Britain at the end of the 18th century. These emerging norms, related to sociability and ideals of polite society, were largely set and enforced by other women. While they allowed them some freedom from men’s intrusive attempts, these norms were also accompanied by a denial of women’s sexual desire. People who were seen as transgressing these norms risked being excluded from “society”. The discussion draws on a range of memoirs, diaries, novels, conduct books and letters to examine an area of conduct that is rarely the subject of explicit comment.
Réseaux sociaux