关键词: 英国, 中产阶级, 女性, 休闲, 社会地位

Abstract: Based on literature review, the current paper discusses British middle-class women’s leisure activities in the 19th century from historical and sociological perspectives. Studies indicate that: before the mid-19th century, British middle-class women, influenced by traditional social concepts, mainly attended static leisure activities such as elegant arts education, handicraft making, drama watching, etc. On the surface, it seems that women enjoyed a high prestige, but in reality, women’s social status was quite low; after the mid-19th century, the social diversification and the rise of women’s self-consciousness made women’s leisure activities more diverse and women turned to outdoor activities. As a result, the traditional boundary between men and women was broken and the idea of freedom and independence was sparked among women. however, women’ssocial status and rights were not completely liberated.

Key words: Britain, Middle Class, Female, Leisure, Social Status