I do not know about Australia specifically. However, I've read a fair number of books written from 1900-1920, and female clerks and secretaries are actually somewhat plentiful in them. The majority are set in New York City, which I imagine would be the most progressive in this respect, but I can't recall any in-story bias against these women. On the contrary, some negative attitudes are generated because the woman *works* instead of having money of her own, not because she's moved out.
*Re-reads question* Wait, now I'm confused. You say she's married, but she's thumbing her nose at her guardian?
Perhaps guardian isn't the right word... he was the man who was her legal guardian until she married. He's rather conservative for the time, whereas her husband - while upper class - has rather more liberal views and wouldn't have a problem with her working as... well, pretty much anything.
Thanks for the info, I'll keep that in mind! It's looking like the best idea at the moment :)
Okay, that clarifies a little bit. So she's proving her independence from her guardian, although she's married? The marriage itself effectively secures her independence from her guardian, unless there's some other kind of arrangements. If her husband is upper class, her former guardian would not be able to exert any financial pressure. Unless she's REALLY extravagant and he's holding out a carrot of Big Bucks in his will. :P
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Oh, don't be sorry, it's all appreciated! The fact that I was way off-base with the nursing (and apparently in general) from the research I could muster just shows how much I need this.
It's... very complicated XD It's not that she needs to prove her independence, it's an attempt - partly for her own sense of self, and partly for the fact she disagrees with her guardian's views - to do so, despite the fact he doesn't have any sway over her any more. I was looking for something that is... not a rebellion, really, because I know that's not the right word, but that's the general sense I'm going for. Really, I'm thinking the political activity is a wonderful fit for her character
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Oh, good! Sometimes I let my mind go, and I really don't want to run all over your project.
I agree, political activity sounds perfect, especially if she's a woman of integrity. And even more especially if it's an issue on which the father in law's in the other corner! Rather thumb in the eye, there. ;) (BTW, it might help if you referred to him as her father-in-law; that seems to be a much more common term, and it shows how there's very much still a relationship, instead of merely a former guardianship.)
And actually, that relationship isn't complicated at all! It's fairly common in decades' worth of contemporary fiction. ;)
his belief is more that people should have the right to act how they want - he just wants to act in the way that also happens to be acceptableI'm afraid this part still puzzles me. Not because it's uncommon per se, but because it seems so very unlikely that a man in his circumstances would ever arrive at such a viewpoint - and, once arrived, be able to hold it when it came home to roost in his own house. That
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*Re-reads question* Wait, now I'm confused. You say she's married, but she's thumbing her nose at her guardian?
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Thanks for the info, I'll keep that in mind! It's looking like the best idea at the moment :)
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It's... very complicated XD It's not that she needs to prove her independence, it's an attempt - partly for her own sense of self, and partly for the fact she disagrees with her guardian's views - to do so, despite the fact he doesn't have any sway over her any more. I was looking for something that is... not a rebellion, really, because I know that's not the right word, but that's the general sense I'm going for. Really, I'm thinking the political activity is a wonderful fit for her character ( ... )
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I agree, political activity sounds perfect, especially if she's a woman of integrity. And even more especially if it's an issue on which the father in law's in the other corner! Rather thumb in the eye, there. ;) (BTW, it might help if you referred to him as her father-in-law; that seems to be a much more common term, and it shows how there's very much still a relationship, instead of merely a former guardianship.)
And actually, that relationship isn't complicated at all! It's fairly common in decades' worth of contemporary fiction. ;)
his belief is more that people should have the right to act how they want - he just wants to act in the way that also happens to be acceptableI'm afraid this part still puzzles me. Not because it's uncommon per se, but because it seems so very unlikely that a man in his circumstances would ever arrive at such a viewpoint - and, once arrived, be able to hold it when it came home to roost in his own house. That ( ... )
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