British Female Emigration Societies and the New World, 1860-1914

This book focuses on the departure of Britain's 'surplus' women to Australia and New Zealand organised by Victorian British female emigration societies. Starting with an analysis of the surplus of women question, it then explores the philanthropic nature of the organisations (the Female Middle Class Emigration Society, the Women's Emigration Society, the British Women's Emigration Association, and the Church Emigration Society). The study of the strict selection of distressed gentlewomen emigrants is followed by an analysis of their marketing value, and an appraisal of women's imperialism. Finally, this work shows that the female emigrants under study partook in the consolidation of the colonial middle-class.

Focuses on the nineteenth-century British philanthropic societies responsible for female emigration Examines the role played by middle-class women within these organisations Tackles important subjects including women's and gender studies, the history of migration, and the British Empire

Auteur
Marie Ruiz is Associate Professor in British History at Université de Picardie Jules Verne, France. Her research focuses on nineteenth-century British female emigration societies and the surplus of women question. She is currently editing International Migrations in the Victorian Era (2018).
Philippa Levine is the author of the book's preface. She is the Mary Helen Thompson Centennial Professor in the Humanities at the University of Texas, USA, and Co-Director of the University's Program in British Studies. Her recent books include Prostitution, Race and Politics: Policing Venereal Disease in the British Empire (2003) and The British Empire, Sunrise to Sunset (2007).

Texte du rabat
This book focuses on the departure of Britain's surplus women to Australia and New Zealand organised by British female philanthropic societies, which were founded in order to assist and protect their strictly selected gentlewomen emigrants. Starting with an analysis of the surplus of women question in the national censuses and in the press, this book then explores the philanthropic nature of the organisations under study (the Female Middle Class Emigration Society, the Women's Emigration Society, the British Women's Emigration Association, and the Church Emigration Society). A study of the rigorous selection process imposed on the female middle-class emigrants is followed by an analysis of their marketing value, as well as an appraisal of women's imperialism. Finally, this work proves that the colonies represented heterotopias of the Motherland, and that the female emigrants under study partook in the consolidation of the colonial middle-class.

Contenu
PREFACE; PHILIPPA LEVINE.- INTRODUCTION.- THE FEMALE EMIGRATION SOCIETIES AND THE EYE OF POWER.- THE FEMALE EMIGRATION SOCIETIES AND PHILANTHROPY.- SELECTING AND TRAINING FEMALE EMIGRANTS.- FROM THE ABDUCTION OF THE SABINE WOMEN TO THE EXPORTATION OF BRITISH WOMEN.- IMPERIALIST LADIES: A GENDER RE-CODIFICATION.- AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND: HETEROTOPIAS OF THE MOTHERLAND?.- ARRIVAL IN THE COLONIES: THE BUILDING UP OF A NEW SOCIAL BODY THROUGH GENDER, CLASS AND RACE.- CONCLUSION.- APPENDICES.- SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY.- SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY.- INDEX