A Study On The Interaction Between Women's Liberation And Middle-Class Philanthropy In The Mid And Late Victorian Britain

In the 19^th century,Britain went through a wealth of massive changes and the society was in a period of transition.For one thing,great advances were made in science and technology;the economy enjoyed fast development;the politics became increasingly democratic.For another,the gap between the rich and poor kept widening due to challenges brought about by the industrial revolutions and the government's lack of effective responsive measures.Despite the fact that the British government did not perform its duties well in helping the poor,private charity dominated by the middle class developed very quickly in the mid and late Victorian era.The study is aimed at exploring the interaction between women's liberation and middle-class philanthropy in the mid and late Victorian Britain by introducing their development and key features,and by analyzing the reasons for the flourish with liberalism taken into account.The study reveals that women's liberation and middle-class philanthropy promote the prosperity of each other by sharing the public's support,similar experience and skills.These two courses,with women acting as the link,lay a solid foundation for the other's further development.There are quite many researchers who are concerned about the liberation of British women in the mid and late Victorian Britain,but there are fewer researchers who pay attention to middle-class philanthropy at that time.There are even fewer researchers who are concerned about both and trying to examine the relations between women's liberation and social philanthropy in that period.This study intends to make a preliminary exploration and interpretation of the interaction between British women's liberation and middle-class philanthropy based on the social environment and social thoughts in Britain's critical transition period.Based on the mid and late Victorian era,the study introduces the development and key features of middle-class philanthropy,and analyzes the reasons for its fast development.The study discusses the evolution of major feminist ideas,the separation of private and public domain,and the demonstration of women's elevation in social status.The study expounds on the importance of liberal feminism to women's liberation,the significance of women's liberation to middle-class philanthropy,and the significance of middle-class philanthropy to women's liberation.The study believes that women accumulated experience by engaging in philanthropic activities.With the awakening of female consciousness,women became increasingly aware of their lawful rights and involved in women's liberation movement.Those who successfully entered the political field had the opportunity to speak for women and fight for their rights.The prosperity of middle-class philanthropy and women's liberation in the mid and late Victorian Britain was not a historical coincidence.Philanthropic activities opened a small window for women to step into the public domain,and the propulsion of women's liberation turned the small window into a big door.Middle-class philanthropy and women's liberation interacted with each other and promoted the development of each other.