Histerische mannen en koele vrouwen. Politiek, sekse en emoties in de lange negentiende eeuw. De Arena. Debat over emoties

Abstract

Marjan Schwegman, Highly strung men and unshakeable women. Politics, gender and emotions throughout the course of the nineteenth centuryIt is a commonly held view that throughout the course of the nineteenth century opportunities for women to participate in Dutch politics increased. However, if one examines the changes in the public articulation of gender, emotions and politics, a completely different picture emerges. Women were increasingly labelled as emotionally unstable and childlike. These ‘characteristics’ were considered incompatible with a political career. This categorization became an obstacle on the road to the full participation of women in politics.