So I'm in the midst of outlining a novel set in about 1909, and one of my main female characters is a scholar in London. I have a few questions about this. A main aspect of her storyline is her ambition to be published and respected in the 'old boys club' of universities and museums. How likely would it be for a woman to be published at this time? She's upper middle class, well educated, etc. and her family is supportive of her, but she feels a great deal of prejudice in professional circles. Would it be possible for her to find success in this field? Could she be a professional historian/scholar full time?
Also, if she's primarily interested in Anglo-Saxon artifacts and history, would it be reasonable (possible/likely) for her to study and do research at the British Museum? I'm American, and I don't know enough about London to feel comfortable putting her in a random museum or university. Perhaps I should just make one up... I don't necessarily want to do that, though. Are there any small, specialized museums or libraries that she could be employed at?
If all that's not possible, would it be more reasonable for her to be a librarian with a healthy side interest in these sorts of topics?
Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated! (Also, any websites focusing on the time period would be great as well.)
Thanks so much!
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0 / 50,000
Feb 12, 2008 - 17 17
for her to be published wouldnt be that big a problem - she'd just need enough money to pay for it, but the biggest problem she'd have is being taken seriously. there would indeed be a LOT of prejudice, and a LOT of people trying to stop her, gossiping, and all that jazz, and she might be a little shunned from polite society for wanting to be considered equal to men (even if this wasnt what she wanted in particular, it would be what people would think)
there were some select few men's clubs (most upper - middle class men were included in these) that would take a very intelligent, VERY determined woman.
however, she would probably have to prove herself to them, and keep proving she was as good as them, because some would resent it.
it wouldnt be easy, but it would be possible. To be a professional historian/scholar, she would first have to make herself well known, without being shunned completely. this would be no mean feat, and would probably take awhile to accompolish. she would lean heavily on the support of her family until she could make a living off the books she wrote for herself, or fin herself a husband that would approve of his wife probably being more intelligent than himself. which would be a challenge in itself.
As to your second question, i think she could definetly study/work at a museum, maybe not the British Museum, but then again, this is a complete guess, as i'm not british.
good luck! i like the idea, its quite original :D
Sha
31,684 / 50,000
Mär 31, 2008 - 14 46
This seems like the perfect set up for a cross dressing story. A historical example would be Dr. James Barry aka Margaret Ann Bulkley who was quite possibly the first woman to become a doctor in England. The debate still rages over whether this person was a man or a woman, but very good evidence exists to show that he was really a she. The article (http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19726462.000-histories-the-male-mi...) I read gives a rather convincing argument that the reason Barry became a man was to get a degree in medicine which she would take overseas and practice in Venezuela where she had a friend. Unfortunately, before she could finish medical school the friend had been thrown into jail (he was something of a guerrilla). With so much money invested in her education (the family was poor and living off of a dead uncle's bequest) and having not yet been found out as a woman, Barry joined the British Army as a surgeon and was not found out until her death in 1865.
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2007: Miss. Marin
51,008 / 50,000
Jul 20, 2008 - 21 20
She may be respected in her field of interest, but she is much more likely to be a volunteer than an employee. Women of a certain class were expected to not work, especially for pay. You may want to read up on some of the female scholars of that time.
It is highly unlikely she would be able to get paid. When the girls colleges opened later in the century, she would have a chance there, but that would not be for fifteen to twenty years.
She may be respected by the scholars, and, if married to someone with similar interests, would likely move in the same circles and much of her work would go under his name.
It was very hard for women to work for pay beyond service jobs, the only educated job to hold for pay was as a governess.
If she is a woman of leisure, relatively, she may be basically creating a museum in her house, using her husband's money.
By the by, men's clubs were men's clubs. Most had rules barring women from crossing the threshold. It was a place for men to go to be rid of family, many men would live at their clubs when they got sick of dealing with a demanding family. Women were not accepted.
----------Nothing is impossible, there are only differing degrees of probability.