Who are blue stockings, or How girls of difficult behavior defended their right to intellectual development

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Nowadays nicknamed "blue stocking" most often they reward spinsters who sacrificed their personal lives for the sake of a career or science, although this interpretation of this phrase has nothing to do with its original meaning. Phraseologism appeared in England in the 18th century, and those who were called "blue stockings" not only were not upset about this, but had every reason to be proud of their title. In addition, men were the first to receive such nicknames.

The expression "blue stocking" (bluestocking) was first recorded in 1756 in England, in the correspondence between Elizabeth Montague and Elizabeth Vesey - members of a circle of intellectuals who met to talk about art and science. The soul of the society that gathered in the 1750s-1760s. in the salon of Elizabeth Montague, there was a scholar Benjamin Stillingfleet, who disdained fashion: etiquette was required to wear silk white or black stockings, and he wore blue woolen stockings. And in their correspondence, women called the male intellectuals with whom they communicated in this circle. They also used the phrases "bluestocking doctrine", "bluestocking philosophy" to refer to their particular philosophy "as a means against the rough world of politics."

D. Boswell explains the appearance of the expression “blue stocking” in the following way: “Stillingfleet was such an excellent conversationalist that his absence was perceived as a great loss, and we used to say:“We cannot do without blue stockings,”and so little by little this name stuck ". And later, "blue stockings" began to call the rest of the circle and all those men and women who preferred intellectual discussions and philosophical conversations to ordinary entertainments like playing cards.

For England of that era, such salons were an absolute innovation - earlier, discussion of serious issues was the prerogative of men in clubs, coffee shops and pastry shops. In the salons with the ladies, no one conducted such dialogues - it was considered indecent. However, over time, there were more and more women in society who were interested in art and engaged in literary creation and translation.

Over time, the title of "blue stocking" began to be perceived as highly honorable, and its presence testified to belonging to the intellectual elite. Gradually, a new ideal of the English lady is being formed in society - intellectually developed and spiritually independent. The traditional role of the uncomplaining and obedient wife was ridiculed and condemned. So, Lady Montague wrote ironically about the main rule of such marriages: "Kiss me and shut up!"

One of the members of the "blue stockings" circle was Hannah Mohr, whose fate was not at all typical for women of that era. At 22, she met a wealthy gentleman 20 years her senior. He proposed to her, but for some reason the marriage never took place. But the man appointed Hannah a content, thanks to which she could live comfortably for her own pleasure. Then she went to London, where she became a member of the circle of intellectuals called "Bluestocking". Hannah Mohr opened several schools for the poor and dedicated her life to teaching children and writing. She never married.

However, by 1800, the Bluestocking circle had disintegrated, and the attitude towards educated women had changed in society. Byron in 1820uses this expression in a disparaging sense in relation to Lady Montague's salon. Following him, men begin to ridicule women who prefer intellectual pursuits to family life. In the XIX century. many anecdotes and caricatures have appeared, condemning women who are passionate about creativity, science or social activities. One common joke was: "Many women turn into blue stockings because no one is interested in the color of their garters."

Surprisingly, where this phraseological unit originated, it has not been used for a long time, but here the expression "blue stocking" is very common and known to everyone. In one of his stories A. Chekhov wrote: “What good is it to be a blue stocking. Blue stocking … God knows what! Not a woman and not a man, but the middle half, neither this nor that."

The original meaning of the phraseological unit has changed under the influence of society's reaction to the emancipation movement. Therefore, the expression "blue stocking" acquired an ironic and then offensive sound. In the twentieth century. The situation has not changed: 10 venomous cartoons that make fun of suffragists