Love between women could take on a new shape in the late…
““Love between women could take on a new shape in the late nineteenth century because the feminist movement succeeded both in opening new jobs for women, which would allow them independence, and in creating a support group so that they would not feel isolated and outcast when they claimed their independence. … The wistful desire of Clarissa Harlowe’s friend, Miss Howe, “How charmingly might you and I live together,” in the eighteenth century could be realised in the last decades of the nineteenth century. If Clarissa Harlowe had lived about a hundred and fifty years later, she could have gotten a job that would have been appropriate for a woman of her class. With the power given to her by independence and the consciousness of a support group, Clarissa as a New Woman might have turned her back on both her family and Lovelace, and gone to live “charmingly” with Miss Howe. Many women did.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Economic independence and supportive networks enabled women to envision and pursue new relational possibilities in the late 19th century.
In simple terms: Jobs + community = new love options.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the power of collective support.
Themes
gender
economics
social change
relationships
Mood
reflective
empowering
Type
historical
analytical
When to use this quote
- career planning
- L circles
- historical research
- activism
Key Concepts
feminism
class
sexuality
Questions to Reflect On
- What barriers still limit women's autonomy?
- How can modern movements replicate supportive networks?
A Different Perspective
Not all women accessed these resources.