Dozens of Victorian women took part in boxing matches, study finds

Victorian women struck a blow for equality: Dozens of female fighters entertained crowds and faced ridicule during the 19th century, a study reveals - and even fought against men. fights to study in the Journal of Victorian CultureWomen faced sexism in society and the press to fight

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Posted: 12:16 GMT, 18 January 2023 | Updated: 12:40 GMT, 18th Jan 2023

When imagining what an average woman looked like in the Victorian era, people tend to think of someone in a long skirt, looking prim and proper.

What we don't tend to think about is two shirtless women, throwing punches at each other.

But a new study has revealed how some Victorian women engaged in boxing fights, with 162 award-winning fights between 1850 and 1900 identified by academic Dr Grace from the University of Southampton Di Méo.

Women are said to have faced the sexism of society and the press to fight each other - some even clashing in the ring against men.

Many followed the practice adopted by male fighters of partially undressing in combat, with one account describing how two women were "stripped down to size".

Writing in the Journal of Victorian Culture, Dr Di Meo examined 80 fights out of the 162 she discovered, recorded in newspapers, police archives. ..