The Tyranny Of Fashion (1889)

Reverend Madison C. Peters addressed a number of late Victorian social concerns in his 1889 publication, “The Path of Glory,” ranging from whom to marry to finding the right occupation.

The Path of Glory, written and compiled by the Reverend Madison C Peters, first appeared in print in 1889. It is typical Sunday reading fare from the late Victorian era; advice on “whom to marry, making home happy, training children, moral obligations” and so on was offered with a decidedly religious slant.

In many ways this message seems remarkably modern because it echoes our own concerns about the fashion industry’s influence. Peters warns the reader not to let superficial concerns distract women from cultivating their intellects and personalities. Yet at the same time, the message is steeped in gender stereotypes, accusing women of bankrupting their husbands and never at all considering that men could be swayed by fashion too.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.