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Original poster

Female monarchs

29 replies

NotInMyDay · 07/02/2013 21:57

Hi this is my first thread in this section. I confess to not being as knowledgeable as most of you here but I read the threads with interest and they have certainly opened my eyes to a few things.

Anyway onto my thread...
I am watching the Young Victoria film tonight about Queen Victoria. It has got me thinking that in the last 200 years Britain has been ruled by a female for well over half of that time. Both Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth seem (to my knowledge) to be well respected and thought to be capable monarchs. In the case of Queen Elizabeth, well liked by the populace also. I don't get the feeling that the nation is 'bored' with a queen and champing at the bit to have a king back or that she is seen as a second rate monarch because she is female.

So my question is this; why has this not had more of an impact on how women are placed in British society?

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 07/02/2013 22:40

Victoria was a nightmare for the suffrage. She termed it a ''mad, wicked folly''.

There is a very interesting series called She Wolves about the early Queens of England; Matilda, Eleanor, Isabella, Margaret, Jane, Mary and Elizabeth. Fascinating. And I think that the first four - and probably the last - of those had more impact, though it might not have been instantly recognised.

Original poster
NotInMyDay · 07/02/2013 22:29

Thanks Bossy - I was really nervous about posting. Feel out of my depth.

slhilly - be that as it may, they were/are still seen as the head of the country with the ability to influence people's mindset. It seems odd that a woman could rule the country but women were so downtrodden in all other walks of life. But maybe that's the answer... Are the queens the cosmetic facade with the Prime Minister doing all the 'men's' work? Although we survived QEII and Margaret Thatcher... just!

OP posts:
slhilly · 07/02/2013 22:21
  1. Because they are constitutional monarchs with fairly limited powers
  2. Because the monarchy stands for privilege and conserving power with elites.
Bossybritches22 · 07/02/2013 22:17

Interesting question- maybe it HAS had more of an impact than we give them both credit for?

Given the patriarchal societies both Queens were born into-especially Victoria-it's amazing they have had as much impact as they have.

Nowhere near enough obviously but maybe things would be even worse had we had a purely male line of Monarchs? Hmm