FANCIFUL FRIDAY

As romantic as movies can make it seem, the past wasn’t all that great for women

You’re having tea when you hear your gal pal muse: “I was born in the wrong era.”

Yes, you think. Early 19th century fashion was very dramatic, men stood when ladies walked in the room, people read poetry and took long walks together, and everyone owned horses. What a romantic time to be alive.

Your fanciful daydreaming sees you sipping tea in bone china cups, wearing silk gloves and overlooking several acres of immaculately manicured lawn, while discreetly and shyly eyeing the handsome gentleman training one of your horses.

He courts you.

He reads poetry and plays the harp. Finally, after months of expectation, he leans in for a kiss...

“Eeeeuw!,” you shout at your friend, startling her half to death, as you shake yourself from your daydream. “His breath would stink, wouldn’t it?,” you say to the uncomprehending face across from you.

“They didn’t bathe all that often in the 19th century. And they definitely did not have toothpaste.” Uuurgh, you think. What a dirty time to be alive.

Gladly, you find yourself in an age where not only running water, but also soap and toothpaste is freely available. True, men don’t stand when you walk in the room, but that’s uncomfortable anyway. People don’t randomly recite poetry at you, but that’s OK too. It’s weird. Most importantly, you are allowed to work, vote, drive, decide who gets to marry you, and so much more. We still have a long way to go, but women have it a grand sight better than they did 200 years ago, don’t they?

You live in the safest (believe it or not), most advanced and most comfortable era in human history thus far. As fun as romanticising the past can be, don’t forget what a fantastic time it is to be alive right now.