해리엇 마티노, 글쓰기, 그리고 ‘여성 문제’ - 마티노의 초기 활동(1820-30년대)을 중심으로 - (Harriet Martineau, Writings and ‘Woman Question’ - With Reference to the Activity of Harriet Martineau in the 1820s and 1830s -)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 영국사학회
· 수록지 정보 : 영국연구 / 21호 / 57 ~ 84페이지
· 저자명 : 배인성

초록

해리엇 마티노는 남성 중심의 빅토리아 사회에서 여성 작가로서 독특한 입지를 확보하였다. 본 논문은 마티노의 초기 활동을(1820-30년대) 중심으로 ‘여성 문제’에 관한 그녀의 입장을 고찰하였다. 마티노는 남성의 전유물이었던 정치경제 분야에 대한 글쓰기를 시도하고 ‘남성’과 ‘여성’ 글쓰기의 경계를 무너뜨리고, 남성 담론에 참여할 수 있는 권한을 여성에게도 부여하였다. 나아가 교육의 성적 불평등을 비판하고 동등한 교육의 기회를 주장하였으며, 여성의 동의 없이 제정된 결혼법과 이혼법의 폐해를 지적하고 이를 개선하기 위한 방법으로 법률의 개정을 촉구하였다.
이렇듯 마티노는 여성의 교육, 결혼, 가정, 여성의 권리 등에 관한 여성 담론을 둘러싼 갈등을 구체적으로 드러냄으로써 당시의 여성들에게 그들이 처한 사회적 억압을 자각하도록 이끌었을 뿐만 아니라 여성의 사회적 권리를 얻기 위해 함께 행동할 것을 촉구하였다. 이러한 마티노의 초기 활동은 이후 전개될 페미니즘의 근본적인 틀을 제공한다고 하겠다.

영어초록

This article examines Harriet Martineau’s ‘woman question’ discourses, focusing on her works and activities of the early 19th century. This period witnessed the rise of a domestic ideology which distinguished the domain of masculine public sphere and the private, feminine sphere of domesticity. This ideology thus brought censure and bias to women who worked in the public sphere. Indeed, Harriet Martineau received a negative appraisal as a Unitarian, radical, intelligent, and deaf woman.
Education for women was an important theme which Martineau pursued throughout her life. Martineau’s early writings suggested that women should be educated in order to encourage their companionship with men and improve their teaching of their own children, although she always advocated a distinctive course of study for girls such as domestic arts in addition to the program followed by boys. In her writings on women question, Martineau repeatedly expressed a concern for an equal education as well as an equal employment.
Martineau could develop a feminist consciousness through her American journey from 1834 to 1836, during which she might experience the abolitionist meetings. Above all, Martineau criticized unjust treatment of women in marriage. It was simply assumed that women were not supposed to pursue any other purpose of life than marriage itself.
In addition, she was ready to criticize the political system for excluding women. She suggested that women should have political rights if women were found to deserve such rights. Her feminist politics was to continue strong throughout her life.
In sum, Harriet Martineau revealed many problems facing women in terms of education, marriage, divorce, women’s right and femineity, and helped women to realize social oppression and to act together. Martineau established some of the fundamental intellectual precepts on which today’s feminism is posited. She was surely what we called in the early days of the women’s movement ‘a role model from history’, a woman of achievement, independence, and autonomy.

참고자료

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