Thanks to Anne Dealy, Director of Education and Public Information at the Geneva Historical Society Geneva, NY, who sent this myth.
A recent study using reenactors showed that wearing corsets laced 3” tighter than natural reduced lung capacity by 2% to 29%. Some wearers felt short of breath but were easily relieved with rest. The conclusion: “Reports of corseted women fainting are likely to have been accurate,” especially during physical activity such as dancing. (See the excellent book, The Corset: A Cultural History, by Valerie Steele, 2003, for more info.)
So now we know that corseted ladies were not faking the fainting spells, at least not all the time. But does it follow that fainting couches were invented and strewn about Victorian houses in case of sudden need?
In a word, no. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first known use of the word day-bed is 1594, but the actual object dates much earlier. Paging through the Dictionary of English Furniture turned up many, many examples of antique couches and day-beds—most upholstered or caned—from the 1600s forward, proving that this item of furniture was not a Victorian invention. While the term “fainting couch” seems to date from the Victorian era (sadly, there is no listing of it in the OED), the style existed in ancient Roman, Egyptian, and Greek times. (below, see Roman, Egyptian, and Greek depictions)
Since the Victorians were fond of reviving historical styles—think Greek Revival, Egyptian Revival, etc.—the adaptation of those early pieces to current use was a fashion statement as much as a useful piece of furniture. As such, they probably would have been found in the most fashionable rooms of the house, like the parlor.
I want to caution folks about interpreting this sentence, “Reports of corseted women fainting are likely to have been accurate”. It perpetuates the myth of the “horrible torture of Victorian women.” I think most of the readers of your excellent blog know that the corset was a universal garment worn by almost every woman, some corset styles were restrictive and some supportive, some women laced them extremely tight and most women just needed support, and that women scrubbing floors were just as likely to have one on as ladies lounging about their mansions. And that most women of any time are too busy working to faint!
Perhaps addressing myths surrounding corsets would be another post(or 2 or 3)?
Thanks, Joanna
And yet, the Dress Reform movement happened for a reason. If Victorian women’s garments weren’t restrictive, why would so many women have rallied around that cause? And I’ve never heard of someone being too busy to faint – it’s not something you schedule.
If your source for the study mentioned in the first paragraph is Valerie Steele’s book, then you’re getting your facts wrong. It was one study, and it didn’t involve reenactors. If you’re talking about a study not cited in Steele’s book, then you really should cite a source. I agree with Joanna…you’re perpetuating a myth here, without nearly enough evidence, and with an either incomplete or inaccurate citation. That’s really unfortunate – I’m used to seeing such interesting posts on this blog! This one is really disappointing, and frustrating to read, as a historian who studies the history and mythology of corsets.
Yes, I was citing Steele. If I’ve given this the wrong slant, please correct and I’ll rewrite.
Today’s Sunday newspaper had a column called “What It’s Worth” where people send in a picture of their antique and the expert responds. This week, columnist Jay Moore fed the fainting couch myth with his response.
A woman had sent a picture of a factory-made “fainting couch” from the 1890s and Jay Moore said “Fainting couches . . . were used in the homes of upper-class Victorian women who often wore stylish corsets that restricted blood flow and reportedly caused frequent fainting spells.” Then he goes on to note that “None of the contemporary catalogs I looked at used the term fainting couch.”
Right, Jay–because it wasn’t considered a fainting couch, just a fashionable piece of furniture.