Idols of Perversity

Around 1900, a widespread cultural attack on women emerged across literature, art, science, and philosophy. This period saw the formulation of many anti-feminine ideas that continue to limit women's potential today, as intellectuals across Europe and America depicted women primarily in sexual and reproductive roles. This text examines the origins and evolution of turn-of-the-century misogyny through the works of hundreds of influential figures, including Zola, Strindberg, Henry James, and Darwin.