Victorian Men

The Victorian period was a time where social and economic advancements reached unprecedented levels.  The Victorian man was the breadwinner and head of the family and household.  Men were expected to be dutiful and attentive husbands.  Most men would learn their values from there childhood homes and hope to carry them on in their future homes.

Gender was massively characterised by what was know as the private/public divide.  The private sphere of family and household were the women's responsibility while men tended to the public sphere; i.e. work, politics, government.  The man's social identity consisted of home, work and all-male association.

Equally as important to the victorian man's masculinity was the need to leave son's behind to carry on the family name.  The degree of success achieved by the son depended on his upbringing and his ability to be able to stand on his own two feet for manly independence.  His success also depended on the encouragement he received to succeed from his family whilst growing up.