Status

Overview

Gender roles are structured, visible, and enforced socially.
Men dominate work, authority, and public space.
Women are defined by class, setting, and visibility.

• West → strict roles, controlled women

• Central → structured but functional

• South/East → practical, survival-driven

• Slums → necessity overrides structure

👑 Royal Grounds

Male

• Absolute authority

• Decision-makers

• Public-facing power

Female

• Symbolic, controlled presence

• No work role

• Social and political positioning only

Perception

• Women represent status, not function

• Men define structure

🏛️ Mayfair / Belgravia

Male

• Providers, decision-makers

• Control finances, status, and direction

Female

• Do not work

• Manage social presence and reputation

• Expected to be composed, elegant, passive

Perception

• Working women = social failure

• Men lead, women support socially

🏘️ Kensington & Chelsea

Male

• Primary earners

• Authority within household

Female

• Limited independence

• May manage household or social life

• Rare light work but not expected

Perception

• Men lead

• Women support but slightly more active

🏢 City of London

Male

• Dominant in all professional roles

• Control business, finance, law

Female

• Present in limited roles (support, clerical)

• Not in positions of authority

Perception

• Work = male domain

• Women in business are exceptions

🎭 Soho

Male

• Mixed roles

• Less rigid authority

Female

• Visible and active

• Work present (entertainment, service, vice)

Perception

• More fluid roles

• Women visible but still judged

🏭 Southwark / Bankside / East Southwark

Male

• Labour, trade, physical roles

• Household authority

Female

• Work common (service, trade support)

• Manage home and contribute income

Perception

• Practical equality in function

• Men still lead socially

⚓ Docks (North & South)

Male

• Dominant presence

• Work and environment controlled by men

Female

• Limited presence

• Often tied to service or informal roles

Perception

• Male-dominated space

• Women seen as secondary or temporary

🏚️ East End

Male

• Labour and income roles

• Social authority

Female

• Work common

• Household and income shared

Perception

• Less rigid than upper class

• Still male-led

☠️ Slums

Male

• No consistent authority

• Survival-driven

Female

• Work common

• Survival equal or greater responsibility

Perception

• Roles blurred by necessity

• Strength defines position, not gender alone

🌆 South London

Male

• Primary earners

• Household authority

Female

• Contribute to income

• Manage home

Perception

• Balanced but male-led

🏗️ Southwark New Works

Male

• Labour-focused

• Dominant in work

Female

• Limited work roles

• Supportive or local trade

Perception

• Male-dominated environment

Cross-Class Gender Rules

Upper Class

• Women do not work

• Men provide everything

• Female value = presentation, marriage, social positioning

Middle Class

• Women may assist but not lead

• Men remain primary authority

Working Class

• Women work out of necessity

• Men still socially dominant

Slums

• Survival overrides structure

• Women often equal or stronger in function

• Authority based on capability

Public vs Private Roles

• Public space → male dominated

• Private space → female influence increases

• Elite women → visible socially, not functionally

• Lower-class women → visible functionally

Behaviour Expectations

• Men:

  • lead

  • initiate

  • control

• Women:

  • support

  • respond

  • maintain

Key Rule

• The higher the class:

  • the more restricted women are

  • the more visible male authority becomes