The English Miss, German 'Fräulein' and French 'Mademoiselle': Foreign Governesses and National Stereotyping in Nineteenth- and Early Twentieth-Century Europe

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27

Foreign Countries; Educational History; Multicultural Education; Stereotypes; Nationalism; Females; Employer Employee Relationship; Teacher Student Relationship; Immigrants; Caregivers; Religious Discrimination; Religious Factors

France; Germany; United Kingdom (England)

10.1080/0046760X.2013.877526

0046-760X

In nineteenth-and early twentieth-century Europe, the age of the governess coincided with the age of nationalism. This paper explores the connection between them in the specific context of intercultural education by foreign governesses. It argues that nationalism, with its focus on the identification and projection of a distinct national character, led to the stereotyping of European countries and, by extension, the stereotyping of foreign governesses. It further contends that the clichéd images of the English Miss, German "Fräulein" and French "Mademoiselle," which were international, powerful and largely negative, had, on the whole, a detrimental effect on governesses and their working relationships with employers and pupils. It concludes that stereotyping along national lines adversely affected both visitor and host by promoting formulaic and prejudicial attitudes one to the other.

As Provided

2014

EJ1026909