There was a moral panic in the 19th century where people were outraged that young girls from good families kept reading novels. They said it would lead to social self-isolation and bookishness and distract from apropriate activities like knitting, socialising, looking pretty and smiling.
And young women were thought to be largely unable to discern fact from fiction and hold their gentlemen callers to the same standards as the men in their novels. And you know, women having standards… the 18th century couldn’t have that.
There was a moral panic in the 19th century where people were outraged that young girls from good families kept reading novels. They said it would lead to social self-isolation and bookishness and distract from apropriate activities like knitting, socialising, looking pretty and smiling.
And young women were thought to be largely unable to discern fact from fiction and hold their gentlemen callers to the same standards as the men in their novels. And you know, women having standards… the 18th century couldn’t have that.
Jokes on them, both men and women now isolate themselves thanks to C.AI (=