Советы суфражистки 1918 года о браке: почему лучше не жениться

5 Pieces Of Marriage Advice A Suffragette Gave Young Women In 1918 That Still Feel Really Relevant Today In 1918, as women were fighting for the right to vote, a suffragette's pamphlet on marriage offered candid advice to young ladies navigating their futures. The pamphlet, now on display at the Pontypridd Museum in Wales, gave practical — and brutally honest — insight into the nature of marriage. Some of these reflections may seem dated, but much of it still resonates with modern-day women. Here are the pieces of marriage advice from 1918 that still feel relevant: 1. 'Do not marry at all' cottonbro studio / Pexels This first piece of advice was perhaps the most radical. While many women today proudly choose to remain single, it was a far more extreme decision a hundred years ago, when many women were taught that their goal in life should be to find a husband. The fact of the matter is — in 1918 and in 2026 — marriage benefits men more than it does women. The labor gap persists, and data show that having a husband results in 7 more hours of housework per week. Moreover, studies show that unmarried, childless women are the happiest demographic. This piece of advice encourages women to pursue their own dreams and aspirations, free from the societal pressure to find a man and settle down. 2. 'Avoid the beauty men, flirts, and the bounders' Of course, not everyone is willing to forgo marriage. So, if you must wed, the pamphlet suggested avoiding beauty men, flirts, bounders, tailor's dummies, and football enthusiasts. Bounders referred to men who behaved immorally, especially in their relationships with women. In other words, avoid players and chronic bachelors — certainly sound advice today. 3. 'Look for a strong, tame man' Timur Weber / Pexels The pamphlet warned that most men are "lazy, selfish, thoughtless, lying, drunken, clumsy, heavy-footed, rough, unmanly brutes." Ouch! That's certainly a cynical take. Of course, not all men are so bad, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was especially important for a woman to marry a genuinely good man, as women had very limited rights. The National Women's History Alliance pointed out that women could not yet vote, could not own property, and were forbidden from higher education and many professions. Wives were entirely dependent on their husbands, who could hurt them with impunity. Today, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, over a third of American women have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner. Yet the Trump administration, and especially Vice President J.D. Vance, is pushing to end no-fault divorce. Even in 2025, marrying the wrong man can have detrimental consequences. 4. 'If you want him to be happy, feed the brute' "The same remark applies to dogs," the suffragette joked. In other words, the way to a man’s — and a dog's — heart is through his stomach. In Marjorie Swift's 1925 book Feed the Brute, she wrote, "The well-fed man is a happy man — and a very easily ‘managed’ one too. And since we women know that to maintain harmony every man, however clever, however efficient, however charming, must be ‘managed’; let us feed him well first and manage him afterward." Of course, it's not a woman's job to cook and clean for her husband. But that doesn't mean there isn't some validity to the power of a good meal. 5. 'You will be wiser not to chance it' Calling back to her first piece of marriage advice, the suffragette ended her pamphlet with a stark warning: "You will be wiser not to chance it; it isn’t worth the risk." In an era when women had fewer rights and opportunities, marriage often meant losing one’s autonomy. Today, this piece of advice serves as a friendly reminder to be cautious about what relationships we enter into. Erika Ryan is a writer working on her bachelor's degree in Journalism. She is based in Florida and covers relationships, psychology, self-help, and human interest topics.