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What were the contradictions of the First Sexual Revolution?What was the First Sexual Revolution?Beginning in 1700, the sexual revolution was a change amongst all ranks of society that led to an increase in liberal (free) attitudes towards sex. This led to an increase in the population. Sex became a source of public interest. The ‘stiff upper lip’ of the past was gone, at least for the time being, with sex being openly discussed and printed in many books and images. These new ideas and attitudes were part of the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment is the name for a period of time when freedom, equality and individual happiness were made a priority. That is life and happiness in life were held as more important than being pure and preparing for heaven. The One-Sex Model?Historian Thomas Lacquer writes that before 1700 there was a one-sex model. That is, society did not recognise separate genders. Women were seen as inferior men, based on the beliefs of Christianity where Eve was made from Adam in the Garden of Eden, and therefore not a distinctly separate group from men. As well as women being viewed as a subset of men, they were also viewed as an inferior subset. Despite this, women before 1700 could perform similar roles to men, especially in areas such as farming and among the poorer sections of society. There role was seen as being centred on the home, but the lines of care and duty between men and women were blurred.After 1700, a two-sex model emerged where men and women were seen as completely different to one another. This led to a greater separating of roles. While it gave women some opportunity to develop as individuals and to be seen in a new light, their roles were also restricted. Women were seen as different and ideal women were seen as innocent with beauty that must be protected. Pre 1700 women were more likely to be seen as ‘lusty whores’, who were trying to undo the goodness of men. In this sense their roles were reversed. Women went from being seen as fundamentally wicked and needing to be controlled, to being seen as virtuous and needing protection. The First Sexual Revolution therefore brought with it a new social culture based on the man at the top of society – strong, sensible and also wild - followed by women – meek, virtuous, and innocent. This saw the formation of ‘phallocentricism’ – a society built on masculine ideals of power and ambition. A society of domination. THINK!What were the contradictions between the Enlightenment atmosphere of sexual freedom and the idealising of women as virtuous and needing protection as part of the First Sexual Revolution? Sally Salisbury – The First Female Celebrity?Sally Salisbury, was a famous prostitute in the early 18th century. Her exploits became famous in her book, The Genuine History of Mrs. Sarah Pridden, usually called Sally Salisbury (1723). She was famous for having clients as members of the aristocracy. Her story began when she was a teenager, having a sexual experience with a girl. She was described as being extremely beautiful and with a quick wit, wild and seeking adventure. She did not fit the model of a weak woman which was idealised after the First Sexual Revolution. She became a prostitute for many years before being arrested for stabbing one of her clients, a famous politician. She died aged 34 in prison.-90534131357 She was seen as outrageous but fascinating.Sally Salisbury became famous throughout the world for her adventures and is rumoured to have had George II as one of her many lovers. She could be considered a celebrity as people throughout England and in other parts of Europe knew of her and regarded her as the source of female lust. Her story is not unique. Stories of poor young women being undone by experiencing sexual desire and falling prey to male desire were extremely popular throughout the 18th century. They were not ideal women, but they were fascinating. THINK!Why might people of the 18th Century regard Sally Salisbury as a celebrity?The story of Sally Salisbury could be said to challenge the new ideals of womanhood that emerged. Why might these stories be so popular with men at this time?Over to you!The growth of a new sexual freedom was popular in the 18th century and covered a wide range of practice. But it was not without its opponents. Do some research into groups that were opposed to the sexual revolution?Teacher notes: ‘What were the contradictions of the First Sexual Revolution?’What is a slot-in?A slot-in is a short story from the past that is rich in historical concepts. You can use a slot-in as part of a longer sequence, or as cover work, or in those moments where you need something short. Slot-ins are also a good way to increase the representation of diverse people from the past in your curriculum. The concept focus of this enquiry The enquiry question here is: ‘What were the contradictions of the First Sexual Revolution?’ Students are introduced to the change in attitudes to women as part of the Enlightenment and then read a story that highlights some of the contradictions will engage with the story of a key individual in 18th century women’s history. They can assess the extent to which gender roles changed in the 18th century and how that encourages, but also in in tension with the sexualisation of society. Curriculum linksWomen’s rights over timeThe Industrial RevolutionActivity suggestions You might want to do an activity comparing different women’s experiences during the 18th century. This could be done by analysing sources which describe women’s roles and thinking about how they differ.They could also look at the criteria for what makes a celebrity and see if individuals like Sally Salisbury fit into this category using their criteria and contextual knowledge to see if she conforms or does not. Greg Jenner’s work on celebrity provides some criteria that could be used. They could also compare different male perceptions of sex and gender in this time (most erotic novels were written by men) and see how they compare to female perceptions. Misconceptions to dispelIt is important to remember that while life for many men and women changed throughout the period, it was not universal. This is especially the case for lower class and rural communities. The sexual liberation was usually located in cities where a phallocentric culture could develop and expand. In this sense, experience is not universal. Teachers might need to explain that the sources available are usually publicised and therefore most likely exaggerated and also created for entertainment purposes. It is also important to avoid the idea that all women were either weak or prostitutes. There were women who fit neither of these categories, however from a purely social/gender perspective it is an important module for understanding change and development in gender based in the broader context of change within society.Extra background for teachersGender history, while taught in schools, often emphasises women as victims of male domination. It is important to show students that the picture is not so simplistic and even when some women’s lives became more restricted, as gender roles were separated, they also gained a degree of sexual liberation. The source evidence for the sexual revolution is shown in the shift in texts from encouraging mutual masturbation between sexes to penetrative sex. As a result of this shift there was a sharp increase in the number of children born out of wedlock and an increase in the population, coinciding with the start of the Industrial Revolution. The sexual revolution of the 1700s transformed the history of gender roles. Social historians such as Dabhoiwala (2012) lead the discussion on the First Sexual Revolution, charting how views of sex move from the private sphere to the public and the influence of the Enlightenment in causing this shift. The increased emphasis on the topic for historical study has began as a result of the rise in social history and Second Wave Feminism of the 1970s. Where to link toWomen’s History Month is celebrated every March, supporting the advancement and women’s voices of the past - historian and broadcaster, Fern Riddell researches and writes about the topic, including traditional historical perspectives on the topics. ................
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