Governesses

A governess is a woman employed in a private household to educate and supervise children. Typically a live-in tutor, she provides instruction while also overseeing manners and daily routines within the household. The role has historically been associated with middle- and upper-class families.

Governesses were most common in Britain and continental Europe from the 18th through the early 20th century, a period when formal schooling for girls was limited and education was an asset for social mobility. They often lived in the employer's home and were part of the domestic staff. Fictional depictions, such as Jane Eyre, helped shape popular perceptions.

Duties commonly included literacy and numeracy lessons, foreign languages, music, drawing, needlework, and social etiquette. They might supervise children's play, arrange lessons, track progress, and accompany the family on travels. They sometimes provided religious instruction and moral guidance.

Training varied; some women received no formal education beyond basic schooling, while others attended private schools or governess training courses. Employment was precarious—gaps between postings could be long, and job security depended on the patron family's wealth and taste.

The rise of state-funded schooling and professional teaching in the late 19th and early 20th centuries reduced demand for governesses in many regions. The term remains primarily historical and literary, though the role persists in modified forms as private tutors or educational caretakers.