1. What was the role of women in literary life during the 1800's?

Prior to the 1850’s, women had little influence in the literary sphere. “Women writers were stereotyped as being brainy, selfish, unladylike, and unattractive,” leaving the role to the “more capable” men of the time.[1] These men, fearful of competition, harshly criticized any woman who tried to impose on their livelihood. Thus, they attached little value to female literary products, claiming the inadequacy to be the result of “their supposed deficiencies as women.”

Explanation: I found this here: https://commons.trincoll.edu/1862/2012/12/20/1862-the-explosion-of-women-writers/

that’s a nice boss :