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A wife being sold at Smithfield Market, London, 1816
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A wife being sold at Smithfield Market, London, 1816
A wife being sold at Smithfield Market, London, 1816. A woman stands with a rope round her neck, like an animal; Smithfield is a cattle market. A man - presumably her husband - holds the rope. Another man chucks her under the chin. People have assembled for the spectacle, and dogs and small boys enjoy the excitement. A publican stands outside his tavern in his apron to watch
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Media ID 15170498
© London Metropolitan Archives (City of London) / Heritage-Images
Cattle Market Humiliated Humiliation Market Sell Seller Selling Sexism Sexist Smithfield Market Spectacle Street Life Degrading Metaphor
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EDITORS COMMENTS
A Disturbing Spectacle: The Dehumanization of Women in 19th Century London". This haunting print captures a shocking scene that unfolded at Smithfield Market, London, in the year 1816. In this distressing image, we witness an act of utter degradation as a wife is being sold like mere livestock. With a rope tightly wound around her neck, she stands alongside her presumed husband who holds the other end with callous indifference. As onlookers gather for this macabre spectacle, their faces reveal a mix of curiosity and amusement. Dogs and small boys join in the excitement, unaware or perhaps unfazed by the gravity of what they are witnessing. A publican even abandons his duties momentarily to observe from outside his tavern. The engraving serves as a powerful metaphor for the deeply entrenched sexism prevalent during that era. It highlights how women were seen as property rather than equal partners within marriage. This deplorable practice reduced wives to commodities to be bought and sold at will. The anonymity surrounding this image only adds to its unsettling nature; it represents countless similar instances where women's dignity was trampled upon without consequence or remorse. Today, we look back on such scenes with horror and gratitude for progress made towards gender equality. This photograph serves as a stark reminder of our collective responsibility to continue fighting against all forms of oppression and discrimination faced by women worldwide.
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