International Journal of Languages, Literature and Linguistics, Vol. 3, No. 3, September 2017 Exploring “Her” Depictions of the 19th Century Social Transactions in Alcott’s Behind the Mask S. Bokir below. Abstract—Behind the Mask is one of Louisa May Alcott The complexity that result from analyzing the subject (1832-1888) successful short fiction, though did not reached the expands to include various dimensions of society in actual fame of the other novels like Little women, still it is considered everyday situations that requires different categories of one of the remarkable works of Alcott. In the novella, Alcott analysis. In this case there is a requirement for a distinctive delivered a well representation of the social and economical positions of women in 19th century; and how a lot of women methodology to fulfill research complexity demands. Those were obliged to earn their living though they are from the demands could be very challenging, as other researchers of genteel class. intersectionality can confirm. Typically, scholars prefer Alcott depicts women’s socio-cultural challenges in the 19th methodologies that more naturally contribute to the study of century English society through her protagonist’s struggle for a complexity. One of those flexible methodologies is better social status against numerous social prejudices she Intercategorical (aka categorical) complexity encounters. In this paper, I will identify, explore and investigate The intercategorical approach to intersectionality starts by these social prejudices through the theory of the intersectional focusing on the fact that inequality exists inside any social feminism point of view that discusses the intersectionality of class and gender that has been shown to have a visible impact on group, and then customizes this as a foundation for the labor market for females in the 19th century Europe. discussion of intersectionality [1]. According to intercategorical complexity, “the concern is with the nature Index Terms—Louisa May Alcott, Behind the Mask, of the relationships among social groups and, importantly, intersectionality, feminism. how they are changing.” [1] Variations of this methodology utilize existing categorical distinctions to document inequality across multiple dimensions and measure its change I. INTRODUCTION over time. “The intercategorical approach (also referred to as American author Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) in the categorical approach) initially started with the inspection Behind the Mask is very successful in representing the social of unequal relationships among already established and economical positions of women in 19th century. In communities, as defective and continuously changing as they general, women, in that era, were dependent financially on are, and those relationships become the center of analysis in either their fathers or husbands. However, if the such researches [1]. circumstances had obliged them to support themselves or their families, they would usually have searched for jobs. In her novel, Alcott depicts women’s socio-cultural challenges II. DISCUSSION in the 19th century English society through her protagonist’s struggle for a better social status against numerous social Interlocking Matrix of Oppression prejudices she encounters. In this paper, I will identify, Collins discusses the different intersections of social explore and investigate these critical social prejudices discrimination as the matrix of domination, which is also through the theory of intersectionality and how sex and class called, “vectors of oppression and privilege” [2]. These are effecting the situation of women in the nineteen-century expressions are indicating how differences among people Europe. “intersectionality—the relationships among multiple (sexual orientation, class, race, age, etc.) serve as oppressive dimensions and modalities of social relations and subject methods against women and their life experience in society. formations—as itself a central category of analysis” [1] Alcott in her novella Behind a Mask points towards the From the intersectional feminism point of view that influence of such oppressive measures on working women in discusses the intersectionality of class and gender has been the society that connected to class and gender, and how it is shown to have a visible impact on the labor market for th further intensifying the women oppression in the society and females in the 19 century Europe. That was discussed in their feeling of subordination. Alcott’s novel behind a Mask by the portrayal of Jean trying The most familiar occupation for middle and upper-middle to maintain her sense of self across from the prejudices she class women was to work as a governess, which was not an faces her as a woman from a lower class. Though easy task for a gentlewoman to do, for a governess would governesses are usually comes from good families, still their frequently face many difficulties from low wages to need to work for money have given them a class of their own loneliness and degradation. There were other occupations available for women at that time, but they were considered Manuscript received June 9, 2017; revised September 10, 2017. socially intolerable, such as sewing, writing or even acting Shada Salem Bokir is with the National University of Malaysia [3]. Alcott, in this novella, highlights social attitudes toward (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), Malaysia (e-mail: [email protected]). governesses and actresses to criticize gender prejudices in doi: 10.18178/ijlll.2017.3.3.127 162 International Journal of Languages, Literature and Linguistics, Vol. 3, No. 3, September 2017 her era. him about the new governess: In the 19th century, the term governess was usually used to -“No, thank you. I have an inveterate aversion to the whole describe a private teacher usually for an aristocratic family [4] states that, “The governess is generally a young lady, dressed tribe. I’ve often thanked heaven that I had but one sister, and in the trappings of a working woman”. she a spoiled child, so that I have escaped the infliction of a “The real definition of a governess, in English sense, is a governess so long” being who is our equal in birth, manners and education but -“How will you bear it now?” our inferior in worldly wealth” [4]. A governess was usually -“Leave the house while she is in it” [10]. an unmarried woman who was responsible for educating the Gerald’s final remark is that he cannot even bear to stay in children in their early childhood. She was generally teaching the same house with a governess. He would make other them English, music, geography, math, drawing, singing and comments that refer to his disgust with the stranger like: “I needlework, “According to the advice books, she must also will give her a three days’ trial; if she proves endurable I shall teach Audrey plain and ornamental needle work, dancing, not disturb myself; if, as I am sure, she is a bore, I am of and drawing, as well as continuing the girl’s lessons on anywhere, anywhere out of her way” [10]. Nonetheless, after pianoforte” [5]. A governess had to be a lady herself to teach making acquaintance with Jean, Gerald and Lucia’s the young aristocrats what they needed to know in order to be judgment did not change, as Lucia continues to make unkind genteel nobles. This is why a governess usually came from a statements about Jean; “What an uncomfortable creature to good family or at least a middle-class home. Unlike the nanny have in the house! I am sorry I urged her coming, for your and nursemaid, who mainly are considered of inferior classes, mother has taken a fancy to her, and it will be hard to get rid the governess was from middle class or even the aristocracy of her” [10]. This attitude from her employers makes Jean [6]. Many governesses were daughters of clergymen too [7]. Those daughters were bright and well educated, like the hate them; and makes her determined to change her position. Bronte sisters, Anne, Charlotte and Emily, three of Victorian Both Gerald and Lucia made their comments about Jean England’s greatest novelists, who worked in a period of their without considering her feelings as she hears them, which lives as governesses. The experience left them bitter and make them very selfish and mean; and Jean has to put up with resentful. Similarly, “For Jane Austen, to become a them and endure their insolence towards her as a governess, governess was to “retire from all the pleasures of life, of and an employee in their house. rational intercourse, equal society, peace and hope, to Brandon wrote about Clair, Mary Shelly’s stepsister, as penance and mortification forever” [8]. Austen here she worked as a governess: “Governessing showed her the summarized all the psychological and financial pressures a world. But it was never her world, and it filled her with governess may suffer, in being from a genteel family, who bitterness” [8]. Moreover, a governess who received a salary was living in a house that was not hers, and was obliged to from her employer was degraded from the genteel rank to a take orders from people who could be from her own rank; in hired dependent. Her salary was considered very modest, addition, she received money from her equals, all these about thirty-five pound a year, although this sum could vary circumstances could be very difficult for a governess to according to how rich the employer was. She was offered a endure. In the same way, Charlotte Bronte wrote in a letter room and board as well. However, she was responsible for her experience as a governess saying, her medical care, travel expenses, and clothing; and she did not expect employment security. She was supposed to I used to think I should like to be in the stir of grand folks’ accompany the children as long as they were awake; society; but I have had enough of it—it is dreary work to look therefore, another aspect from which the governess suffered on and listen […] a private governess has no existence, is not was the work obligations, which left her lonely for most of considered as a living rational being, except as connected the time.