Treatment of Female Sexuality in the Poems of Select Nineteenth Century Women Poets

Name of Author : Dr. Rajani B

Abstract: The nineteenth century was a dark period for women who were interested in the world of letters. One of the major hurdles in the path of women who were striving towards self- improvement was the lack of educational opportunities. Added to this was an almost nil representation in the arena of employment and issues relating to lack of access to inheritance of parental property. The literary scenario was so gendered into male and female spheres that the public/ private dichotomy was never so much visible. The public sphere with its usual baggage-- political, economic, social, religious interests were treated as purely masculine subjects and the female was positioned as the other. Women were portrayed as being of domestic, reproductive and nurturing tendencies and feminine writing was exhibited as sentimental, flowery and extremely moralistic.

Keywords : Female Sexuality, Nineteenth Century Women, Domestic, Social, Economic

DOI :