Ireland, Robert.

“Frenzied and Fallen Females: Women and Sexual Dishonor in the Nineteenth-
Century United States,” Journal of Women’s History, vol 3, no 3 (Winter 1992): 95-117.
Print.

Robert Ireland’s text is a detailed study of 12 court cases which took place from1843-1896,
concerning woman who were accused of killing in order to avenge their honor. During this time,
American lawmakers had created an “unwritten law that forgave men and women who killed to
avenge sexual honor” (96). The increasing “male libertinism” of the time put an almost
unbearable social pressure on unmarried women to be involved in sexual activities (96) and the
law made allowances for a quiet form of retribution outside of the usual societal and legal
channels. This pressure did not even let up when women were married, as they were expected to
hold the family together and fulfill their husband’s sexual desires while also remaining
passionless (the Victorian ideal). An illuminating quote from the text states:

Nineteenth-century American women, especially those who were young and

unmarried, carried a great sexual burden. On the one hand they were supposed to be
models of chastity, while on the other they were preyed upon by increasing numbers of
men eager for pre-marital or extra-marital sexual relations. The need for them to marry to
survive economically and socially and the realities of their sexual drives (as opposed to
their theoretically restrained sexuality), coupled with the presence of an abundance of
male sexual adventurers, meant that certain of them would become involved in pre-
marital sexual liaisons that would result in pregnancy, abandonment, and societal
ostracism. (95)

This quote pertains directly to many female characters in House of Mirth and will be used to
underscore the pervasive and very real pressure upon women during a time when marriage was
her most attractive career choice. The research paper will incorporate the historical context taken
from Ireland’s text: actual people appearing in court (and talking frankly about sexual
encounters) in the years of mainstream adherence to the notions of the passionless female
preceding the publication of House of Mirth in 1905. The novel connects directly to the society it
was created within; information from this source will help establish this important relationship.

Ireland’s article is peer-reviewed. It is published in an academic journal that uses a strict peer
review process. Before anything is approved for publication in this journal, a board of experts in
the field read, review, and critique the pieces to ensure accuracy and appropriate level of breadth
and depth. Their work ensures consistency of information within their field and also pushes the
field into new ideas (for the future of the discipline). Whether or not a reader adopts the same
point of view as the author, they can be assured that the information has been researched and
presented to them in good faith.
Additional Format Option:

Source 1:

Ireland, Robert. “Frenzied and Fallen Females: Women and Sexual Dishonor in the Nineteenth-
Century United States,” Journal of Women’s History, vol 3, no 3 (Winter 1992): 95-117.
Print.

Source Summary:

Robert Ireland’s text is a detailed study of 12 court cases which took place from1843-1896,
concerning woman who were accused of killing in order to avenge their honor. During this time,
American lawmakers had created an “unwritten law that forgave men and women who killed to
avenge sexual honor” (96). The increasing “male libertinism” of the time put an almost
unbearable social pressure on unmarried women to be involved in sexual activities (96) and the
law made allowances for a quiet form of retribution outside of the usual societal and legal
channels. This pressure did not even let up when women were married, as they were expected to
hold the family together and fulfill their husband’s sexual desires while also remaining
passionless (the Victorian ideal).

Information and Analysis:

 Nineteenth-century American women, especially those who were young and unmarried,
carried a great sexual burden. On the one hand they were supposed to be models of
chastity, while on the other they were preyed upon by increasing numbers of men eager
for pre-marital or extra-marital sexual relations. (66)

o I want to use this to show that women were seriously pressured to get married. In
fact, it was viewed in much the same way that we view a career today.
o Today, women separate how they think about their career and their family, but in
the 1800’s there would have been no such way of thinking.
o The pressure that we feel about succeeding would have been 100% put upon their
marriage options and decisions.

 The need for them to marry to survive economically and socially and the realities of their
sexual drives (as opposed to their theoretically restrained sexuality), coupled with the
presence of an abundance of male sexual adventurers, meant that certain of them would
become involved in pre-marital sexual liaisons that would result in pregnancy,
abandonment, and societal ostracism. (95)

o The quote above is part of a longer story about court cases.

o People back then would actually appear in court and talk frankly about their
sexual encounters.
o Women were expected to be completely passionless (pure, virtuous) and yet also
sexually appealing. This inherent contradiction was not addressed.
 o I will use this source to tie directly to the novel House of Mirth which was
published in 1905 - this exact time frame.
o The novel connects directly to the society it was created within; information from
this source will help establish this important relationship.

Source Evaluation:

Ireland’s article is peer-reviewed. It is published in an academic journal that uses a strict peer
review process. Before anything is approved for publication in this journal, a board of experts in
the field read, review, and critique the pieces to ensure accuracy and appropriate level of breadth
and depth. Their work ensures consistency of information within their field and also pushes the
field into new ideas (for the future of the discipline). Whether or not a reader adopts the same
point of view as the author, they can be assured that the information has been researched and
presented to them in good faith.