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. Lillian Faderman
About This Quote

The feminist movement of the late 19th century succeeded in opening up professional opportunities for women, which created an independent lifestyle for them. The feminist movement also provided women with a support group, which made them less isolated and more willing to challenge the status quo. The notion of "the New Woman" therefore took shape in the latter half of the 19th century. The concept was that women should be allowed to choose their own profession and pursue their careers without the constraints that men faced. This would enable women to become financially independent, which was considered a crucial step towards equality between genders.

Source: Surpassing The Love Of Men: Romantic Friendship And Love Between Women From The Renaissance To The Present

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