Women, Economic Instability, and Poverty in London During the Nineteenth Century

During the nineteenth century in London, the focus of attention came to be on the “existence of great poverty in the midst of plenty.” 1 Opinions of the origin of this poverty varied. A popular opinion among the upper classes of society was that a lack of morality among the poor had bred a culture of poverty, and that poor relief promoted this pauperism. 2 However, a culture of poverty was not born out of a lack of morality among the working class of nineteenth century London. The poverty, rather, was a result of economic uncertainty as well as gendered expectations, which some relief programs perpetuated. It is evident that the poor of London were characterized as immoral. Throughout this time “London’s population was polarized into a discrete and demoralized working class that was being discovered by a middle class increasingly anxious about its ability to exercise power and authority.” 3 The poor were dehumanized by a majority of society. In his description of the poor of nineteenth century London, Jules Valles states: On a sudden there comes a stench of totting rags, or fermented filth; we are passing a lane or court, some squalid passage swarming with a whole tribe of poor ruffians. One can see them from the pavement without entering, like bugs lurking in the chink of a bed stead. 4