The "New Woman" and It's Impact on the 19th Century

    Introduction 

The 19th century was a historical time period that was known for a great social change within society. Specifically, the roles of gender in society began to shift and woman began to challenge the gender norms, taking on a more free-spirited mindset and independent lifestyle. These woman were recognized as "New Woman" and challenged the traditional Victorian Woman roles that society had previously expected of all woman to abide by. During this time period, literature novels such as Dracula, written by Bram Stoker, were written and published that shed light on this shift of gender norms embedded into the written text that also provides thoughtful insight into this historical topic. 

     History of the Victorian Woman 

These Bell-Shaped dresses left woman restricted
                    to physical movement (4)

 

Prior to the "New Woman" movement, there was the "Victorian Era" that all woman abided by.According to Merryn Allingham, both "men's and woman's roles became more sharply defined during the Victorian period" in comparison to any other historical time period (1). There was a clear distinction between careers, expectations, standards, and gender norms for both sexes. Particularly, woman during this area were recognized as more delicate, physically weaker, passive, and best suited to stay at home (1). Allingham also describes Victorian Woman during this time period to be "poorly educated and barred 

from any form of higher education" (1). This often excluded woman from being able to participate in more active careers in the public and barricaded them from having any say in legal voting as well (1). Their main purpose and calling in society, at this point in time, was to be fully devoted to marriage and having children (1). It was very rare to see both sexes (men and woman) engage with one another, unless it was for breakfast and/or dinner, within the confinement's of their own homes. 

                                

    Now... Introducing the "New Woman" Movement!

As these great social shifts were occurring during the 1900's, the term "New Woman" took center stage to describe woman who broke away from the traditional Victorian woman standards. According to Ruth Bordin, the term "New Woman" described those that "exhibited an independent spirit" and who had a lot of "control over their own lives be it personal, social, or economic" (2). These woman were well and took on more active careers such as medicine  law (2). New Woman focused on maintaining independence and living a life that wasn't constricted to the desires of their husband or any male figure. Even physical appearances played a huge role in this social shift. Prior to the typical Victorian Woman appearance, New Woman were often found wearing shorter dresses and skirts (2). According to Loralee MacPike, New Woman were often seen riding bicycles, using slang, traveling, smoking cigarettes, and being sexually active (3). This was a very large shift from the typical Victorian era and its gender norms which focused heavily on woman staying indoors and devoting themselves to their husbands support. 

Woman Repairing Bicycle, 1895 (4)

                                                   

Representation of New Woman in Dracula 

During this ideal feminist movement, many literature and written work were being published at the time and beginning to incorporate these gender concepts into their pieces. A strong example of a novel shedding light onto the New Woman ideology was Bram Stokers novel, Dracula. Lucy's character represents both the ideal Victorian Woman during her time as a human and then gradually shifts to inhibit New Woman traits as she takes on her vampire form. Her initial characterization at the beginning represented Victorian Woman traits as she is described as delicate and devoted to her husband Arthur (7). However subconsciously we learn about Lucy's sexual desires that break away from the typical gender norms at the time. In her own journal she questions why she can't marry three men at the same time (7). She then conveys the characteristics of a New Woman even more during her transition to becoming a vampire. Her intimate moments with Dracula expressed unconscious sexual desires to engage with other men that weren't her husband which defied the traditional gender roles at the time (6). It is important to recognize that Stoker described her new characteristics in a negative light and that the male characters to this shift in Lucy's behavior was filled with anger, referring to Lucy as a "monster" rather than the pure and delicate descriptions they had previously given her (6). Her character represents both the ideal Victorian Woman but also provides insight to unconscious desires that New Woman, during this time period, would convey as well (6). 

Final Thoughts!

The ideology of the New Woman and its feminist movement influenced an impactful shift in gender roles in the 1900s (2). Woman were seen to be more active and supporting themselves rather than relying on their husband. The typical Victorian Woman and its era slowly began to fade as this new ideology took place, empowering woman to explore their sexual desires and study career choices that were best suited for the public eye (2). However, this was not an easy shift and faced a lot of criticism to the public eye which is noted in Stokers novel, Dracula. The representation of Lucy's character shifting from the Victorian Woman characteristics to the New Woman characteristics were seen barbarous and viewed negatively by the male figures within the story. This corresponds to the criticism New Woman had faced in society when they were not living up to the expectations of pure and domestic behavior that others had wanted them to. However, these woman set the stage for independence and blurring the lines of masculinity and feminist expectations, empowering all woman to take a stand and explore their desires to support themselves and become educated. 

                                                               Works Cited 

1.  Allingham, Merryn. “Women in Victorian England.” Merryn Allingham, merrynallingham.com/19th- century/women-in-victorian-england/. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

2. Bordin, Ruth Birgitta Anderson, excerpt from "Alice Freeman Palmer: the evolution of a new woman," Digital Public Library of America, 1993, https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-new-woman/sources/660

3. Daumier, Honore. "Manière ingénieuse de décharger les toites". National Gallery of Art, 1801. 

4. Jabour, Anya. “How Bicycles Liberated Women in Victorian America.” Commonplace, commonplace.online/article/how-bicycles-liberated-women-in-victorian-america/. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025. 

5. MacPike, Loralee. “The New Woman, Childbearing, and the Reconstruction of Gender, 1880-1900.” NWSA Journal, vol. 1, no. 3, 1989, pp. 368–97. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4315921. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

6. Nekhbet. “Lucy and Mina as ‘New Women.’” Monsters Madness, 30 Oct. 2018,             blogs.dickinson.edu/secretlives/2018/10/30/lucy-and-mina-as-new-women/.

7. Stoker, Bram. Dracula. Archibald Constable and Company, 1897.