Governesses' Benevolent Institution

Governesses' Benevolent Institution (GBI) was a British charity organization, founded in 1841. It was the first association for governesses in Great Britain. It was dissolved in 2017.

History

Throughout the 1800s, the profession of governess was one of few professions open to educated women of the upper or middle-class who wished or needed to support themselves. This was mainly due to their lack of legal rights, and the concept of having a "separate sphere" from men.

Depiction of a governess

Governess had become a very common profession since the second half of the 18th century. In fact, a 1851 census accounted for over 20,000 women who identified themselves as a governess (though there were likely more, as the role often overlapped with other domestic work and women were often overlooked in censuses.) A governess's main role was to provide in-home education for children.

While the role of governess has been romanticized over time through popular literature like Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, it was a hard job. It was isolating; the employed ate with the children and often lived in-home.The working conditions were not regulated. There was no education for governesses, salaries were low, and many governesses became destitute when they were no longer able to work. There was also competition in the position, and often the governesses with the most abilities were turned down for less skilled but cheaper governesses.There was a need for an association to address the rights of governesses.

Philanthropic institutions were very popular in this time period for helping the struggling middle-class. The Institution was founded at a meeting chaired by the Duke of Cambridge. The institution had over 600 subscribers in nine months, however remained largely stagnant until urgered along by a new secretary. Rev. David Lating became secretary in 1843, establishing a ladies' committee to oversee the Institution.

The Governesses' Benevolent Institution worked to give stability to women in governess profession. They founded an education to train up governesses, which was an inspiration for future women colleges. Lodging for governesses in between employment was started in the GBI's Governess Home. A register was created for governesses. There was also a fund set up for governesses in need of financial assistance.

The main focus of the Institution was a retirement home for old governesses – Asylum for Aged Governesses. This was very popular for governesses over 50 who were unable to work.

In the early 20th century, the profession of governess experienced a rapid decline due to the introduction of a regulated public school system. The Governesses' Benevolent Institution therefore changed its name and function to address female teachers in general. The association managed retirement homes for teachers until the early 21st century. It was dissolved in 2017.

Associated Institutions

The Governesses' Benevolent Institution was associated with the Queen's College, London, founded in 1848, and later with the Bedford College, founded in 1849.

References

  1. 1 2 Jordan, Ellen (1999-01-01). The Women's Movement and Women's Employment in Nineteenth Century Britain | EBSCOhost. ISBN 978-0-415-18951-4.
  2. ↑ de Bellaigue, Christina (2001). "The Development of Teaching as a Profession for Women before 1870". The Historical Journal. 44 (4). Cambridge University Press: 963–988. doi:10.1017/S0018246X01002138. ISSN 0018-246X. JSTOR 3133547.
  3. ↑ Fraser, Hamish; Brown, Callum G. (2014). Britain Since 1707. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. ISBN 978-0-582-89415-0.
  4. ↑ Holloway, Gerry (2005-01-01). Women and Work in Britain Since 1840 | EBSCOhost. ISBN 978-0-415-25910-1.
  5. ↑ Jordan, Ellen (1999). The women's movement and women's employment in nineteenth century Britain. Routledge research in gender and history. London ; New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-18951-4.
  6. ↑ Jordan, Ellen (1999). The women's movement and women's employment in nineteenth century Britain. Routledge research in gender and history. London ; New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-18951-4.
  7. ↑ Jordan, Ellen (1999). The women's movement and women's employment in nineteenth century Britain. Routledge research in gender and history. London ; New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-18951-4.
  8. ↑ Jordan, Ellen (1999). The women's movement and women's employment in nineteenth century Britain. Routledge research in gender and history. London ; New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-18951-4.
  9. ↑ Jordan, Ellen (1999). The women's movement and women's employment in nineteenth century Britain. Routledge research in gender and history. London ; New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-18951-4.
  10. ↑ Jordan, Ellen (1999). The women's movement and women's employment in nineteenth century Britain. Routledge research in gender and history. London ; New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-18951-4.
  11. ↑ Hughes, Kathryn (1993). The Victorian governess. London ; Rio Grande, Ohio: Hambledon Press. ISBN 978-1-85285-002-9.
  12. ↑ Holloway, Gerry (2005). Women and work in Britain since 1840. Women's and gender history. London ; New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-25910-1.