Read that, Miller! (nfm)
Posted by P. Bingham on February 25, 1998 at 19:01:11:
In response to Ladies and other creatures, written by Marie B on February 25, 1998 at 08:07:07
] A point that seems to be missed here is that not all women were "Ladies." As a matter of fact very little of the female population would have been considered so. Miss Austen's novels are centered in a world of them but there were a vast number of women who were not recieving the aforementioned perks.
] Considering my own family line and income I would not have been considered a lady.
] I would have been my father's (husband's/brother's) chattel, with no rights to property or even my own children. In American society today I have the same rights as a man and am not owned by anyone. I can make my way into whatever social strata that I may aspire to, it is not dependent on the male I may be attached to. I can have a business, vote, get an education and make decisions for myself. That would not have been available to me in JA's time.
] As romantic as the period was ( and I do LOVE it!) I am infinately better off now than I would have been then, Lady or not.
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