Women’s Restrictions

Throughout time women have had to fight in order to gain their rights. It hasn’t been simple because “til this day we are still struggling to obtain them. During the Victorian Age women had many restrictions as it”s portrayed in Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park, the roles and restrictions women had kept them from living their lives in their own image of happiness.

Women had been expected to follow a certain conduct when it came to how they lived. In order for them to be considered righteous women they were to do as they were told by their husbands and/or family. “Girls should be quiet and modest. The most objectionable part is, that the alteration of manners on being introduced into company is frequently too sudden” (39). Changing the way they were taught to conduct themselves was improper and frown upon. Acting in such a way that was not allowed made them seem impolite. “I had thought you peculiarly free from willfulness of temper, self-conceit, and every tendency to that independence of spirit, which prevails so much in modern days, even in young women, and which in young women is offensive and disgusting beyond all common offence” (256). The mere want to express themselves through their own ideas and opinions would have made them seem rude because this particular behavior was not expected or tolerated in women.

In this period of time a woman’s main goal was to find someone who could secure her well being. Women did not have control over their future, because when they were to marry it was for benefit and not love. Marriage was not a want but a must. If they wanted a better life women had no choice but to find a partner that was going to economically benefit them. “Being now in her twenty-first year, Maria Bertram was beginning to think matrimony a duty; and as a marriage with Mr. Rushworth would give her the enjoyment of a larger income than her father’s, as well as ensure her the house in town, which was now a prime object, it became, by the same rule of moral obligation, her evident duty to marry Mr. Rushworth if she could” (30). Maria knew that she had to find someone who could offer her the riches she was used to and more. Therefore she felt if she didn’t marry Mr. Rushworth she would not have the benefit of such a great income.

Women were to look for their own benefit as well as their families if it was needed. There was no time to be a romantic when it came to how marriage was conducted. If a woman refused a man who could provide for her it was ungrateful in her part to refuse him. “The advantage of disadvantage of your family -of your parents -your brothers and sisters -never seems to have a moment’s share in your thoughts on this occasion. How they might be benefited, how they must rejoice in such an establishment for you -is nothing to you. You think only of yourself” (256-257). Sir Thomas wanted Fanny to feel guilt about refusing Mr. Crawford because he was sure that Mr. Crawford would have been able to benefit her and her family. For that reason, Sir Thomas thinks of her as an ungrateful person and accused her of being selfish; she is a romantic who wants to marry for love and not for interest.

Since women were never allowed to decide for themselves they became so dependent on their husbands. They were stripped from their rights by society and could do nothing about it. Fanny was seen as a modest young woman but as soon as she disobeyed her uncle by refusing to marry, she was portrayed as ungrateful. Men had reign over women which was not rational. Today, women have more rights than before but we are still considered less than men. Someday we will be considered equals in society.