 “The timely check from the manly boy may therefore prevent her from persisting in an effeminating process which would be sure, if continued, to deprive him of this best characteristics.”
I am a man
| | I am a MAN
“Breeching was the time at which a
young boy (age four to seven years old) would be taken out of this child's gown and
stays and given his first
pair of breeches (adult clothing). It was considered a sign of the child's growing
manhood.”
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 | | |
When I see young children, it is quite difficult to distinguish boys from young
girls.
For me, their face, their skin, their attires, all of these look like the same.
About the children clothes,
for several centuries, it seems unlikely that European and American boys wore
dresses like their sisters.
Why they did that?
In fact, dresses were considered to be children's wear not specifically girls'
wear. Boy outgrew the dresses of their youth and were breeched,
or dressed in pants, at an age the family considered appropriate. Most boys by the
age of 5 or 6 years began wearing boys' clothes. However there were some doting
mother who did not
want to lose their little treasures so early. Therefore such boys might be kept in
dresses until 7 or 8 years old or 11 years for some boys.
| Why boys dressed as girls? |
|
|
| - In dress, it
was easier to care for a young child who was not yet toilet trained.
|
|
| - Almost
mothers generally felt dresses were more attractive outfits than
trousers. |
|
| - The
availability of dresses from older sisters |
The breeching of boys was recounted to have been an emotional moment for the mother
who was psychologically loosing her “baby”
The general consensus was that breeching should take place before it was too late.
The expert mentioned “The timely check from the manly boy
may therefore prevent her from persisting in an effeminating process which would be
sure, if continued, to deprive him of this best characteristics.”
[ Bazaar Book of the Household, p.214]
The age of breeching began to decline in the mid-19th century since public education
became increasingly
common. It was probably that a boy sent to school in dresses would be teased by his
already breeched schoolmates. Moreover, after Industrial Revolution
days of childhood were ended so quickly since they may be sent into the mills and
the mines.
Solange
| Source: | www.history.org |
| www.sandiegohistory.org |
| www.photolinda.com |
|
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