Caroline Norton - Pioneer of Women's Rights #shorts

Caroline Norton, granddaughter of playwright Richard Sheridan and talented poet in her own right, is largely remembered today because of a bad marriage and her subsequent championing of women’s rights.

Beautiful, witty and cultured, at the age of 19 she married a dull, jealous man, given to fits of drunken violence. At first, she gritted her teeth, smiled politely as a society hostess had to and expressed her feelings in poetry, but after nine years she could stand it no longer and left him to live on the income from her writing.

But married women had few rights at the time and her husband claimed her earnings as his own. He then abducted their children, denied her access and accused her of adultery with the Prime Minister.

Although she was vindicated in court, the scandal destroyed her reputation. But with quiet determination, Caroline devoted her life to campaigning for reform resulting
in the passing of several new laws to improve the legal rights of married women which hadn’t changed in 800 years.

Music: Frédéric Chopin - Nocturne in B-flat minor, Op. 9, No. 1 Florence Robineau CC3.0

[terrigwyn]

Good for Why didn’t I learn this in school? 😮

[clairetremblay]

I didn't know her contribution. ❤

[ChildofGod]

There are always two sides to every single story.

[Goodiesfanful]

Ironically, Caroline Norton was antifeminist. Circumstances forced her to take a feminist-like stand, but she was not one to side with suffragettes or other women’s rights movements.

[sallymae]

Did you do s full story on her. Love yr documentaries

[kam]

Back when feminism wasn’t about protecting men who want to compete against women in women’s sports….

[phil_]

When are you going to do Donald Trump?