Sarah Stickney Ellis on “The Women of England: Their Social Duties and Domestic Habits”

I find it interesting how this piece beings. Ellis starts this piece by stating “It is not to be presumed that women possess more power than men” (557) and yet goes on for the rest of the piece to show that all these women in leisure do posses the power over the men. But that this power should only be used in the domestic sphere. Ellis understands that women do really run the house. It echoes John Stuart Mill’s belief that women are only held in these positions due to social norms. For Ellis though this seems to be alright as long as women get to have the last say. In modern times it is often depicted that behind every strong man there is a stronger women. Here is a case that is showing it to be true. Here Ellis is showing how women may truly run the domestic sphere and not seem to lose their all important “Lady” status. The most important thing for women at this time was to hold this status. That ultimate status symbol for women was to be called a “Lady.” Ellis shows that this can be done without giving up any perceived notions that the word lady caries. Typically these high society women would be shown as lazily being thoughtful with as little effort exerted during the day as possible. Yet, for Ellis, there is a certain sense of power that can be derived from this stance. Ellis shows that women truly run the household and to an extent the rest of the world, though they cannot truly dictate everything. Ellis shows a dislike for war and wonders if men will ever stop and if they do would it be too late. Overall Ellis shows that being a Victorian lady was not of something to be degraded about but a mantle to be proud to bear.