A governess is a girl, lady, or woman employed to teach and train children in a private household. The position is rarer now, except within large and wealthy households such as those of the Saudi royal family and in remote regions such as outback Australia. It was common in well-off European families before World War I,
especially in the countryside where no suitable school existed nearby.
Parents' preference to educate their children at home—rather than send
them away to boarding school
for months at a time—varied across time and countries. Governesses were
usually in charge of girls and younger boys. When a boy was old enough,
he left his governess for a tutor or a school.
Traditionally, governesses taught "The three Rs" to young children. They also taught the "accomplishments" expected of middle class women to the young ladies under their care, such as French or another language, the piano or another musical instrument, and often painting (usually the more ladylike watercolors rather than oils) or poetry.
It was also possible for other teachers (usually male) with specialist
knowledge and skills to be brought in, such as, a drawing master or
dancing master.
The governess occupied a uniquely awkward position in the Victorian household, because she was neither a servant
nor yet a member of the host family. A governess had a middle-class
background and education, yet was paid for her services. As a sign of
this social limbo she frequently ate on her own, away from the rest of
the family and servants. By definition, a governess was an unmarried
woman who lived in someone else's home, which meant that she was subject
to their rules. In any case, she had to comply with prevailing
Victorian social standards which were rigid and unforgiving i.e.
maintain an impeccable reputation by avoiding anything which could
embarrass or offend her employers. If a particular governess was young
and attractive, the lady of the house might well perceive a potential
threat to her marriage, and enforce the governess' social exclusion more
rigorously. As a result of these various restrictions, the lifestyle of
the typical Victorian governess was often one of social isolation and
loneliness, with few friends. The fact that her presence in the
household was underpinned by an employment contract emphasized that she
could never truly be part of the host family. However, being a governess
was one of the few legitimate ways by which an unmarried middle class
woman could support herself in Victorian society. Not surprisingly, her
position was often depicted as one to be pitied, and the only way out of
it was to get married. Unfortunately, it was difficult for a governess
to find a suitable husband because most of the eligible men she
encountered were her social superiors, who preferred a bride from within
their own social class, particularly since such women generally had
better financial resources. Once a governesses' charges grew up, she had
to seek a new position, or, exceptionally, might be retained by the
grown-up daughter as a paid companion.
- Britishtutors.com, British Tutors - Tuition agency providing governesses worldwide
- The Victorian Governess, a bibliography, at Victorian Web
- VAM.ac.uk, Richard Redgrave's 'The Governess' discussed at the V&A Museum.
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