Caroline Norton's Battle: Reforming Women’s Rights in Victorian England

In this episode of 'She Changed History,' hosts Cara and Vicky dive into the life and relentless struggle of Caroline Norton, a Victorian-era woman whose tragic marital circumstances led her to become a pivotal figure in legal reforms for women's rights in England. The episode discusses Norton's unfortunate marriage with George Norton, highlighting the domestic violence, legal battles, and Caroline's tireless efforts to change child custody laws and married women's property rights. The hosts emphasize Caroline's impactful writings and pamphlets, her relationship with high society figures, and her crucial role in the passing of the Custody of Infants Act and the Marriage and Divorce Act. Despite not being a feminist by today’s standards, Norton's advocacy laid foundational changes that significantly improved women's legal standing in the 19th century.


Sources:
Difficult Women by Helen Lewis 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/norton_caroline.shtml
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Caroline-Norton
https://law-school.open.ac.uk/news/meet-caroline-norton-fighting-women%E2%80%99s-rights-it-was-even-cool
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/caroline-norton/
https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/norton/nc-biography.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whigs_(British_political_party)


00:00 Introduction and Friendly Banter
01:54 Introducing Caroline Norton
03:43 Caroline's Early Life and Family Struggles
10:42 Marriage to George Norton
13:17 The Unfortunate Marriage
15:00 Caroline's Fight for Independence
16:01 The Affair and Legal Battles
20:32 The Male-Dominated Trial
22:26 Caroline's Struggle for Custody
24:25 Using Writing as a Weapon
25:26 The Fight for Legal Reform
31:41 A Heartbreaking Loss
33:01 Caroline's Continued Battle
35:56 The Marriage and Divorce Act
39:36 Caroline's Legacy
40:54 Final Thoughts and Reflections
43:20 Closing Remarks