During the early-eighteenth century, the passing of wisdom from parents to children was an expected part of their relationship and vital to the proper socialisation of children. Throughout their lives, parents offered children advice on their behaviour, passing on their…
Tag: scotland
Women’s History Month: Travelling Women
In 1774, the Scot Janet Schaw went on a trip to the Caribbean. She wrote this letter home to her family while in Antigua. Last Saturday was Christmass which we had engaged to pass with Mr Halliday, but our good…
Patriarchs, Power and Eighteenth Century Marriage
you reign my Eliza alone in mine (heart), & every sentiment of it, is subservient to you … as long as you love me, the most endearing word to my thoughts is wife, because it implies my possession & enjoyment…
The Kirk that Stole Christmas…
Christmas is now a central festivity in Scotland, with Scots spending more on presents than the rest of the UK population- but as a Scottish festival, it has had a chequered history. The celebration of Yule is currently associated with…
Sixteen Days Against Violence Against Women
Today, Thursday, 25th November 2010, sees the launch of 16 Days of Action to Eliminate Violence Against Women. Events are planned worldwide to increase awareness of this pressing problem, which continues to require immediate attention and intervention today. My own…
Catherine Rew’s Oral History, part 1.
A number of years ago, the missionary Catherine Rew did an oral history with her daughter Kathryn Rew Van’t-Wout. This is part one of the transcript. See here for a biography of Catherine. I have added explanatory information in square…
Married Women’s Property and Divorce in the 19th Century
In 1882, after a series of earlier reforms, the Married Women’s Property Act passed for England, Wales and Ireland, while Scotland had a less extensive Act in 1880 and another in 1881. The Act restored to married women the right…