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Some Radical Concepts of Sex and Marriage in Nineteenth-Century America
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 July 2009
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Much of the excitement of nineteenth-century America probably arose from the fact that for nearly every ill some reform was hopefully put forth. Slavery was countered by abolition; alcoholism by temperance; tight lacing by the bloomer dress; indigestion by graham bread. In that spawning ground of panaceas, “every possible form of intellectual and physical dyspepsia brought forth its gospel. Bran had its prophets. Everybody had a mission.” Sex too had its prophets, who not only fulminated against rigid marriage laws and consequent injustices to women, but advocated reforms based upon highly individualized principles.
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- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977
References
NOTES
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