The Ultimate "That's What She Said"

Wakey, wakey Upperclassmen. Gossip Girl here. Winter break is done and I'm starved for a dish. "What's the difference between gossip and scandal?" So glad you asked, FloFromProgressive. Anyone can commit a minor indiscretion and generate a community's worth of buzz. But in order to birth a true scandal, it requires the right person to be in the wrong place.

What Mr. Yarnall said to me when he realized I was doing tonight's blog. 

I thought I would start the blog off today with a simple and elegant quote the one and only Greg shared with us today...

Me: Cities are filled with corruption...

Mr. Yarnall: And hussies!

@EVERYONE

On that note, what actually was discussed in class today besides an awkward conversation about breastfeeding? Well, I am happy you ask. 

The topics discussed in Chapter 19 played a major role in the ways in which life changed during this time period. The changing economic forefront led to the following social changes. 

"What is this chapter about?"

Why?- Young people no longer relied on inherited farmland, so people began to pursue other means of work, many of which were found in cities. With a growing urban population, people were no longer horribly scrutinized by their small communities (i.e. community controls) and no longer relied on the fields that so often tied them down. A new promiscuous age seemed inevitable because of a changing European society.

Good for you Shannon!

What were the major issues females faced?- As young women abandoned their homes in search of various other job opportunities, many became victims to their pleasure-seeking overseers (i.e. rape). 

With the youth seeking greater possibilities and an age of sexual promiscuity burgeoning, it seemed that the young people no longer relied on the bond of marriage to insure happiness and financial security. Most people viewed premarital sex and pregnancy as steps towards a proposal, many pregnant women were left husbandless/partnerless as men no longer felt responsible for indiscretions in the bedroom. With an increasing number of people practicing premarital sex, the number of illegitimate children grew. 

What were people's views about the illegitimate, bastard child?- As I mentioned earlier, community controls were society's ways of controlling individuals by embarrassing those who practiced "immoral" acts. Therefore, when an unplanned, unwanted birth did occur, society seemingly abandoned those involved. Pregnancy without the promise of marriage was something that society deemed improper and inappropriate. So, numerous worried mothers (hello illegitimacy explosion) would leave their children in foundling homes to rid themselves of the burden of raising a child (and community gossip). 

Shut up Society, nobody likes you. 

What were people's views on children in general?- Many children died in childbirth or infancy, so there seems to be a cloud of indifference in regard to people's views on the baby since there wasn't that promise of survival. As we discussed in class, this is kind of a "gray area" for us since it is hard for us, living in the twenty-first century, to comprehend such detachment. It is important to recall that children were not considered "children," since a family relied on the labor of all members, especially of the children. So, while this sounds ludicrous to us, children were like "little helpers/people" whose purpose was to be exploited for the needs of the family unit.

My future child - Emilia 2.0

What was the purpose of a wet nurse?- Hello breastfeeding conversation! Anyone want a HooterHider because I sure do! The idea of a wet nurse illustrates the detachment parents felt towards their newborn children. In today's world, mothers are usually the first to intervene into the lives of their children (MOM STOP LOOKING AT MY BLOGPOST <3), but in this chapter, mothers seem to have a cold feeling towards their children. Wet nurses are a prime example of this nonchalance towards motherhood. She was hired to do a basic motherly duty - breastfeed her employer's newborn, and yes, at the expense of her own child.

Nicole after she witnessed a five-year-old child getting breastfed.

Caroline's Dictionary Word-of-the-Day:

suckle (verb) - to feed a baby or young animal from the breast or teat: a mother pig suckled a huge litter

My reaction after Sardine told me what she wanted her Word-of-the-Day to be.

Also, to answer Mr. Yarnall's question, this is my boyfriend 2.0:

Is it? Because it's not bothering me! ;)

So to all my famished females out there, you never know who you'll "encounter" along the way. Who knows, maybe fairy tales come true after all (and he'll marry you even if you are pregnant). 

XOXO, Gossip Girl

Me after I finished this post without being too inappropriate. GO ME!