British Women's Organizations In The Second Half Of The 19^th Century

In the second half of the 19^thcentury,the social division of labor caused by industrialization and the political transformation brought by the democratization promoted the change in the class structure and the development of civil society in Britain.The city-centered public relations replaced the family relations that bound together by the clan relatives gradually.Although influenced by the theory of"two spheres"and the division of roles with"Angels in the house",women did not submit to the male-domination.Instead,with the development of economic socialization,political democratization,education popularization and ideological pluralism,they expressed their own claims by establishing social organizations that associations.During this period British women formed many social organizations,such as politics,economic,charity,sports and other different types of organizations.Even under the influence of British women,foreign women in British also set up their own organizations to fight for their rights.Different organizations had also established innumerable links.They formed many cross-domain,cross-class,cross-border social organizations.These women's organizations endeavored to acquire their rights by petitions to parliament,speeches at public meetings,and it's also through lobbying around the country,visiting the poor and providing service.At the same time,they took advantage of the development of paper media,using newspapers and magazines to discuss women's rights and call on women to participate.In this process,British women's organizations showed their characteristics.Relying on their own peculiarities and family advantages,middle-class women became the main leaders and participants of the organizations,and extended these organizational activities to all social classes and all corners of the empire.They set clear rules and regulations which reveal standardization and democratization.Under the indoctrination of religion and charity,they spread the spirit of charity and altruism to promote the progress of social morality based on family experience.The women's organizations had multicultural significance.They were transformed from organizations that provide opportunities to interact with people into social mechanism for promoting national development.They reflected the changing times,expressed the universal social norms,transmitted the social responsibility of mutual assistance,and advocated the value of equality.The active social participation of women provided an opportunity for their self-realization,which conducived to the promotion of their economic and political status,and benefited for the development of women's thoughts and movements.At the same time,they also helped to alleviate the class and ethnic conflicts,promote the cultural transformation,prompt national political processes and gender equality.However,in this period,women's organizations had their own limitations.The deep-rooted class differences and the theory of"two spheres"had always affected women's organizations and prevented them from making real breakthrough.Under the dual pressure of internal disputes and external queries,women's organizations have been struggling to develop.Nevertheless,women's organizations played an important role in the second half of the 19^th century.