Highly paid specialists who prepared young ladies for their debut into society, focusing heavily on etiquette, style, and high-level accomplishments. 📚 Duties and Curriculum
Salaries varied wildly, ranging from £15 to £100 per year. For context, a highly skilled chef or butler often earned significantly more. what was a governess in victorian times
: For older girls, she provided instruction in "accomplishments" like drawing, piano, and dancing to make them attractive in the marriage market. Highly paid specialists who prepared young ladies for
Out of this meager income, the governess had to buy her own clothes to maintain a lady-like appearance. She rarely had contracts, meaning she could be dismissed instantly if the family traveled, faced financial hardship, or when the children grew up. The Grim Prospect of Old Age : For older girls, she provided instruction in
The figure of the governess is crucial because she represented the first wave of the "working woman." She proved that women could be intellectual and educated, even when society offered them almost no options to support themselves.
Because she received a salary, the employers viewed her as a subordinate. She rarely joined the family for meals, socializing, or evening entertainment unless explicitly requested to perform on the piano. Too High for the Kitchen