The New Woman

Emily Kline
Blog #1
The New Woman in the 19th Century

The New Woman

The term "new woman" was first introduced in the late nineteenth century and the term is coined from women who were challenging to the gender norms of their time. These women were seen to be independent, and more importantly educated women. they were often looked down upon by others who did not approve of their free spirted nature. Early works of the new woman can be seen in many different works of literature such as Bram Stocker's "Dracula" were the reader sees Mina as a very independent woman.

"Bluestocking" was also another term used to describe the idea of new women, but it was used as more of a derogatory term. The name Bluestocking is actually derived from a group that was formed by women, "The story of the first Bluestockings began in mid-1700’s Britain, when groups of women came together to discuss social and educational matters with men"(3). These women often showed up to these meeting wearing stockings, which in that era stockings were only worn by men. These women paved the way for the centuries to come and this was just the beginning of the societal shift for women.  

In the coming century the term Bluestocking would soon be changed to "The New Woman". The new woman played in all aspects of the society, she was gender defying, independent, educated, and she filled the mans shoes. There was no need for a male authority figure with the new woman identity because she filled those shoes for herself. This new identity strived for equality, "New Woman fiction dealt frankly with sex and marriage as well as women’s desires for independence and fulfilment"(2). 

In the novel "Dracula" Bram Stocker creates the character Mina, as mentioned above, and portrays her as being of equal to the men in the story. Mina is up to date with her education as she practices short hand to write to her husband Jonathan. However, Mina does not try to switch roles with her husband in any way, she loves Jonathan very much but as a reader Mina is presented as a strong woman who often takes on a masculine identity. For example when Jonathan becomes ill Mina Steps up as the masculine figure and takes care of him. other examples of Mina's independence is her traveling places on her own without the help of a male figure. Perhaps the reason Mina does not meet the same fate as Lucy is because of her intelligence, "She is independent and intelligent, but with her marriage to Jonathan and her willingness to play the dutiful wife, she escapes punishment"(1).

This image shows a depiction of the new woman.(4) It is shown in the picture that the woman is wearing stocking, which  is known as being a mans piece of clothing. She is also shown to have masculine features as well as the many different activities she participates in. The new woman also take son many different roles, even that of a mans just as the woman in the photo is seen to be wearing the "pants".

Works Cited 

1. Buzwell, Greg. “Daughters of Decadence: the New Woman in the Victorian Fin De Siècle.” The British Library, The British Library, 15 May 2014, www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/daughters-of-decadence-the-new-woman-in-the-victorian-fin-de-siecle. 

2.  Diniejko, Andrzej, and Litt. “The New Woman Fiction.” The New Woman Fiction, www.victorianweb.org/gender/diniejko1.html.

3. Wills, Matthew. “The Bluestockings.” JSTOR Daily, 4 Apr. 2019, daily.jstor.org/the-bluestockings/. 

4. F. Opper, The 'New Woman' and Her Bicycle, There Will be Several Varieties of Her, January 01, 1895,  Library of Congress.