Purity 

This was one of the most difficult themes to work with in trying to categorise contributions from women writers. The term ‘purity’ has been value laden for so long, it is hard to imagine why women who were struggling to establish themselves within the social and professional networks of the periodical press would engage with such a controversial concept. Those pieces I have included in this category are drawing on purity as a descriptor for seeing things as they really are, in their natural state; in this case, appreciating what women are capable of and can achieve if allowed to completely be themselves, unhindered by expectation.