...and even more from History of Underclothes
Posted by Marie Bernadette on December 30, 1997 at 18:24:47:
In response to this book, written by Caroline on December 27, 1997 at 23:01:14
] "The last quarter of the eighteenth century saw the The first was the development, spreading from the middle class and eventually reaching far beyond it, of that peculiar attitude of mind associated with the term 'prudery'."
] Interesting..does he expand on this at all?Does he give an explanation for it?
]
Here is the paragraph directly after the one quoted above:
" Previously the conventional attitude towards underclothing, for example, had been essentially frivolous; it was a legitimate topic for jests and practical jokes. It was part of the artificial comedy of sex. But prudery, which is an unconsiously exaggerated fear of sex, began to regard the subject more gravely. The fear extended to any kind of object or expression which seemed to be associated, however indirectly, with that dreadful , though commonplace, instinct. Underclothing, especially woman's, came to be shrouded in a moral fog of reticence, at times very baffling to the enquiring historian."
The paragraph after that I have already quoted on our discussion page under 'another quote' (I think).
I really like the Cunningtons works, too! They are refreshingly forthright.
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