In , Marie Stopes opened a clinic for married women who were seeking knowledge about their reproductive health. There women could find a relatively diverse set of contraceptive options which were not publicly available and most importantly, it was free.
Women of all social classes could now have access to family planning, under the guise that it was indeed for sex with their spouse and not another man. Purchase of these tools could easily be denied by store clerks if they suspected it was for other use. Shame was arguably the most powerful tool in the s when it came to discouraging sex and adultery.
There was no legal penalty for extra-marital sex, though it was one of very few grounds for divorce. Cora became pregnant as she approached menopause, much to the surprise of the entire Crawley family. But happiness soon turned bitter as she suffered a miscarriage while getting out of the bath. Robert Crawley loved his wife but a thorough gentleman though he was, he had his moments of indiscretion.
Robert almost ended up cheating on Cora with the housemaid Jane, although he did seem to regret letting his feelings run away with him later. Cora was never shown to have found out about the almost-affair, though given how sharp she was, she might have had an inkling. One of the biggest flaws of his character was not being able to move with the times and adapt to changes. Cora Crawley almost died from the Spanish Flu, which was a worldwide pandemic that lasted roughly from to It was seen hitting Downton, taking down with it members from both the upstairs and downstairs of the house.
Cora was one of the worst affected, coming back from the brink of death and causing major anxiety within the household. Sure we loved Downton Abbey for the picturesque setting and sumptuous costumes , for the meticulous attention to period detail and stirring historic sweep. But we kept coming back, year after year, for the sudsy drama. As we prepare for the upcoming film version , we're remembering the shock we felt when we first witnessed these scandalous moments.
After a hot post-dinner make-out with Lady Mary, the dangerously handsome Turkish diplomat sneaks his way into her bedroom and forces himself on her, only to collapse in an apparent "heart attack. Was Pamuk really poisoned? Was Mary set up? That mystery dogs the Downton heroine through at least three seasons, threatening her all-important chances at love, overcoming trauma, or ever wanting to have sex again.
Sexy but scheming Thomas lures the Duke of Crowborough to Downton with a promise of access to Mary's fortune. But we soon find out that that he really wanted to continue the behind-the-scenes action he'd had with the Duke himself over the summer. At first, Thomas's sexuality is portrayed through the lens of a tragically doomed love affair in a closeted time. That is, until we learn that Thomas also tried to blackmail the Duke by threatening to release their intimate letters.
Pre-Downton, this icon of English reserve and staunch defender of propriety sang and danced on stage as part of a traveling theater group called the "Cheerful Charlies. He banished his old dance partner, Charles Grigg, from his life and threw away his letters—understandable, considering that his former love, Alice Neal, chose Grigg over him. Well, at least it all worked out for Mrs. Game of Thrones fanatics were thrilled to see Ygritte, er, Gwen, played by the gorgeously red-headed Rose Leslie , the former maid who studied to become a secretary return to the show in season six with a rock on her finger and a cool job to brag about.
By sharing her success story around the dinner table, she can't help but elegantly shame Mary, yet again, for her small-minded snobbery. In a classic Downton war-time martyr moment, Daisy opts to marry the injured footman she never really fancied in a deathbed ceremony, just so that he won't have to go to the grave alone.
Born into wealth, Lord Grantham benefits from the dual privilege of manhood and money. Spending most of his life in a world that bends to his will, he has no need to care about how his actions can negatively affect those around him. Women were seizing opportunities for independence, proving their capabilities extended beyond polite conversation. Simultaneously, the working class that made estates like Downton possible realized they could have careers outside of the kitchen and began organizing to have their voices heard in the upper echelons of government.
We see these glimmers of progressive thinking in the likes of Edith, who now owns a publishing company, Dr. Richard Clarkson, who learns to value the input of feisty Isobel when treating wounded soldiers, and former chauffeur Tom with his socialist leanings.
Just think of manspreading on public transit, insistent and unnecessary mansplaining , and the mere fact that male is the default for human. The job titles may be different, the dress less formal, but men in power acting a fool remains the same.
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