What is imperialism? How did it affect women during 19th century Europe?

Imperialism is the name given to the extension of one country's power and authority over another. In the nineteenth century, this refers to countries like Great Britain, France and the United States who colonised a number of nations in Asia and Africa. Historians tend to use the term 'New Imperialism' when describing this period, as to differentiate between the empire-building which occurred in previous centuries.

While studies of imperialism tend to focus on the interests and activities of white, middle-class men, this policy had profound effects on women at home and abroad. The historian, Claire Midgley, for example, has studied the impact of imperialism on British women and found it directly contributed to the growth of feminism. Many women took to crusading against slavery, for example. They joined political associations, produced pamphlets and some even refused to serve plantation sugar in their homes. (This is known as the anti-saccharite movement).  Some women also travelled the world as missionaries, working in newly-founded churches and schools in colonised lands. This gave these women a sense of emancipation and the opportunity to work outside of the home, many for the first time. (See the first reference link for more information.)

Conversely, for the women who lived in these colonised countries, imperialism had a strong impact on their lives. In the French conquest of Algeria, for example, imperialism gave many women their first glimpse of education as the French built schools across the country. In turn, this contributed to a rise in Algerian nationalism, a political and social movement in which many women were involved. 

France's interference in local political and legal structures also had an impact on colonised women. The Berbers, for example, were stifled in their maintenance of traditional Muslim law and this may have had a positive impact on women. In addition, North African women became the focus of many European painters, like Eugene Delacroix, and writers. This brought them to public attention and revealed the intimate details of their lives and cultural practices. In Algeria, their 'domination' by Muslim men was used to justify male disenfranchisement but, sadly, did little to improve women's rights (See the second reference link for further explanation.)

In all, then, this New Imperialism had both advantages and disadvantages for imperialist and colonised women.