I find it highly amusing that the tendencies of male and female leisure time activities have remained basically the same. Men love sports, women talking with each other, nothing has changed to generalize it.

The debating societies intrigued me. I enjoyed one Georgian discussion topic especially: “Does the clause of Obedience in the marriage Ceremony , bind a wife to obey her Husband at all times?”

No wonder the “Times” reacted with a rather sullen and preachy article to such subtle female subversion: "...the debating ladies would be much better employed at their needle and thread, a good seamstress being a more amiable character than a female orator.” LOL!

Does anyone remember a debating society in Jane Austen’s novels? It’s too long ago since I read them so I don’t remember those now rather interesting details. And if so what were the topics? Of course they became on vogue in the early 19th century, so that might not have been included in her books.