The early feminists : radical Unitarians and the emergence of the women's rights movement, c.1831-1851
This thesis redefines the origins of the nineteenth century women's rights campaigns in Britain. Contrary to the existing historiography, which argues that the Victorian feminist movement began in the 1850s, this thesis demonstrates that a vibrant feminist cadre actually existed during the 1830s and 1840s. Previously neglected, this remarkable community of writers, lawyers, artists and reformers established both the ideologies and personnel networks which were to determine the nature of the women's rights campaigns of the coming decades. The seeds of this early feminist movement must be sought within contemporary Unitarianlsm - a denomination whose Influence upon Victorian culture is shown to have been widely underestimated. The radical views on women and the woman question, promulgated by the Unitarian minister, William Johnson Fox and his associates in the 1830s, led to a bifurcation in the Unitarian movement. Fox and his circle began to develop the distinctive ideological creeds which, it is argued, distinguishes them sufficiently for a new term in Victorian radicalism to be coined - the ~radical Unitarians~. The radical Unitarians were an active, imaginative group who sought to transform Industrial society.
Gleadle, Kathryn Jane
HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
The early feminists : radical Unitarians and the emergence of the women's rights movement, c.1831-1851. This thesis redefines the origins of the nineteenth century women's rights campaigns in Britain. Contrary to the existing historiography, which argues that the Victorian feminist movement began in the 1850s, this thesis demonstrates that a vibrant feminist cadre actually existed during the 1830s and 1840s. Previously neglected, this remarkable community of writers, lawyers, artists and reformers established both the ideologies and personnel networks which were to determine the nature of the women's rights campaigns of the coming decades. The seeds of this early feminist movement must be sought within contemporary Unitarianlsm - a denomination whose Influence upon Victorian culture is shown to have been widely underestimated. The radical views on women and the woman question, promulgated by the Unitarian minister, William Johnson Fox and his associates in the 1830s, led to a bifurcation in the Unitarian movement. Fox and his circle began to develop the distinctive ideological creeds which, it is argued, distinguishes them sufficiently for a new term in Victorian radicalism to be coined - the ~radical Unitarians~. The radical Unitarians were an active, imaginative group who sought to transform Industrial society.
early feminist radical unitarians emergence woman_right movement origin woman_right campaign britain contrary exist_historiography argue victorian feminist movement begin demonstrate vibrant feminist actually exist previously_neglect remarkable community writer lawyer artists reformer establish ideology personnel network determine_nature woman_right campaign seed early feminist movement must seek within_contemporary denomination whose influence_upon victorian culture show widely underestimated radical view woman woman question promulgate unitarian minister william johnson fox associate lead unitarian movement fox circle begin_develop distinctive ideological creed argue distinguishes sufficiently new term victorian radicalism coin radical unitarians radical unitarians active imaginative group seek transform industrial_society