It was Isobel Davis in 'Negotiating Patriarchy' I think who pointed out just how significant this was.
-
-
Replying to @HPluckrose
If you spend much time in one room with someone you have to stay with the rest of ur life, this is much more pleasant if they're happy.
1 reply 0 retweets 5 likes -
Replying to @HPluckrose
Which sounds cynical but really lives were tied together so much more than they are now. You knew each other very well. Limited escapism.
1 reply 0 retweets 5 likes -
Replying to @HPluckrose
Divorce was not an option & you can't go off & play video games leaving your wife watching TV in bed whilst on social media.
2 replies 0 retweets 5 likes -
Replying to @HPluckrose
And utterly dependent on each other in a way we're not now. Housewifery really was a full time job just to have food & clothes.
1 reply 0 retweets 6 likes -
Replying to @HPluckrose
So you knew each other very well & apart from natural human empathy, love & compassion, much motivation to keep each other happy.
1 reply 0 retweets 6 likes -
Replying to @HPluckrose
So ppl who look back & see men had power to control almost everything their wives did & assume they'd have done that selfishly see it wrong.
1 reply 1 retweet 5 likes -
Replying to @HPluckrose
Obviously if a man was a bastard & happy to live with a miserable, cowed slave, his wife had very little recourse. Laws needed changing.
1 reply 0 retweets 4 likes -
Replying to @HPluckrose
But mostly ppl had to get through lives which were hard and they had to do it together & they felt love & loyalty & commitment.
3 replies 1 retweet 5 likes -
Replying to @HPluckrose
Only a small minority of men had any meaningful power or wealth
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
And in the upper echelons, the women had it too over the men in lower classes. But not over their husbands.
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.