A comparative study of gender and class dynamics in Victorian Britain and Queen Elizabeth ll

Abstract

This study investigates the Victorian and Elizabethan periods spanning the 19th to the early 20th century, offering insights into the complex interplay of gender, class, and governance during these transformative epochs. Queen Victoria epitomized the Victorian era's ideals of femininity, emphasizing women's roles within the family and domestic sphere. In contrast, Queen Elizabeth II, one of history's longest-reigning monarchs, ascended to the throne in 1952, overseeing a period of significant change in Britain and the world. Over her six-decade reign, she modernized the monarchy while preserving its traditions. Understanding how Britain maintained its monarchical system in contrast to other nations opting for alternative forms of governance is a central inquiry. The dissertation comprises two chapters: one offering an overview of class structures, gender roles, and governance systems, and the other focusing on the Victorian and Elizabethan II eras, exploring the leadership of female monarchs and their perspectives on societal roles. The study seeks to unravel how a woman leading a family could effectively govern a nation and underscores the need to comprehend the monarchy's historical foundations, operational mechanisms, evolving context, and constituent elements.