Double standards

[scripsi]

Still tripping on Versailles and with that some brushing up on the real history. The show does takes liberties with it, though in a way I can handle and enjoy, but it’s also always interesting to know what really went down. (The show simplifies the timeline, makes facts of rumours and twist some character dynamics to make better drama.) And came across this curious display of double standard.

Philippe d’Orange who was the younger brother of Louis XIV had several lovers before and during his marriage. His wife, Henrietta of England flirted openly with the king and slept with one of her husband’s lovers (and might have been the king's lover too). Who was the worst of them? I would say both behaved badly as far as vows go, but it was also a political marriage and neither of them was in love with the other. Also, Phillippe preferred to sleep with men. So is it so odd if both of them displayed interest in other people? Well, according to this blog article I read, Henrietta is to be completely condemned for behaving so badly against poor Philippe, but there is not a single harsh word against Philippe. I don’t get it. Is it because Henrietta was a woman?

Comments

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Definitely. Men can do what they like - women cannot.

[scripsi.livejournal.com]

Yes, but I really wish it is a standard that could go away now!

[liadt]

Historically yes. A man's honour was defined by his word, a woman's by her faithfullness/chastity.

Doesn't mean it doesn't suck though!

[scripsi.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I agree- historically speaking. But this was a modern person's "modern" view.

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

It's long past time for women to be viewed as people with the same rights legally, morally, and socially as men.


Gabrielle

[scripsi.livejournal.com]

Amen!

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a misogynist was at work in that blog article perhaps.

[scripsi.livejournal.com]

It was written by a woman, but of course, that doesn't mean it wasn't a misogynist. I suspect her reaction was quite similar to something I have sometimes noticed in fanfic: The male couple can do nothing wrong but a woman who has a relation with one of thme are all kinds of evil just because.

[dancingdragon3.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes to the women hating in some fan fic. I've even seen it in published M/M. :shakes head:

[scripsi.livejournal.com]

I really hate it! And it's lazy writing, it's perfectly possible to write a M/M realtionship without bashing women!

[snogged.livejournal.com]

That is a standard that I don't care for.

[scripsi.livejournal.com]

Me neither!

[dancingdragon3.livejournal.com]

I agree with the above comments, don't get me started on men being always right, right now.

but also, could it be denial about Philippe's affairs, as they were with men? Or, was Henrietta still child bearing age, and then her infidelity is a threat to inheritance/succession etc? Isn't a wife's womb in a political marriage...like under legal jurisdiction or something? Not saying that's right or anything.

[scripsi.livejournal.com]

but also, could it be denial about Philippe's affairs, as they were with men? Or, was Henrietta still child bearing age, and then her infidelity is a threat to inheritance/succession etc? Isn't a wife's womb in a political marriage...like under legal jurisdiction or something? Not saying that's right or anything.

No, not at all. It compared history with Versailles and there was a lot of happy squee over Philippe's lover.

Henrietta was able to have children and she and Philippe had daughters together. There were rumours that it was actually the king who was the father, but that's just speculations. Philippe himself never seemed to have doubted his parentage and doted on his children. In fact, he was more interested in his daughters and liked to spend time with them than was usual with royal children at the time. But the writer of the article (which I think is a woman), doesn't use this as a reason for the dilike, but only says Henrietta behaved shitty towards her husband.