Tea Tables and the Domestic World: The Feminization of Tea in 18th Century Britain
Disciplines
Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Abstract (300 words maximum)
When thinking of the play activities of a young girl, tea parties might come to mind first while they could come last for a young boy. Tea parties, collecting fine china, and the etiquette surrounding teatime have all been associated with femininity, which is one of the several examples of “separate spheres” between men and women. In 18th century Britain, the separate spheres between men and women were being emphasized more alongside customs of politeness, ideals of luxury and its unvirtuous nature. These separate spheres of men and women also include consumption differences in tea and coffee, and the connotations between them both have emerged as early as the 17th century in Britain; however, greater disparities between the two are more visible in the 18th century British culture. This essay argues that a culture of domesticity and feminization was cultivated around tea while, in contrast, masculinity was emphasized in coffee shops due to the associations of sexual deviance and effeminacy in luxury with tea. I will examine the background and introduction of tea and coffee into Britain and explore the ways in which these associations were being made.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - History & Philosophy
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Amy Dunagin
Tea Tables and the Domestic World: The Feminization of Tea in 18th Century Britain
When thinking of the play activities of a young girl, tea parties might come to mind first while they could come last for a young boy. Tea parties, collecting fine china, and the etiquette surrounding teatime have all been associated with femininity, which is one of the several examples of “separate spheres” between men and women. In 18th century Britain, the separate spheres between men and women were being emphasized more alongside customs of politeness, ideals of luxury and its unvirtuous nature. These separate spheres of men and women also include consumption differences in tea and coffee, and the connotations between them both have emerged as early as the 17th century in Britain; however, greater disparities between the two are more visible in the 18th century British culture. This essay argues that a culture of domesticity and feminization was cultivated around tea while, in contrast, masculinity was emphasized in coffee shops due to the associations of sexual deviance and effeminacy in luxury with tea. I will examine the background and introduction of tea and coffee into Britain and explore the ways in which these associations were being made.