Domestic Boundaries: Class, Gender, and the Economic Constraints of Regency England in Jane Austen's Antifeminist Lens

Author(s)	Mr. Sandeep Agrahari, Dr Khushboo Agrawal
Country	India
Abstract	Jane Austen's novels, set against the backdrop of Regency England (c. 1795–1837), offer a nuanced portrayal of domestic life, where class hierarchies, gender expectations, and economic imperatives intersect to define individual agency. This paper argues that, contrary to popular feminist interpretations, Austen's works can be read through an antifeminist lens, one that ultimately reinforces patriarchal structures and domestic boundaries rather than subverting them. By examining key novels such as Pride and Prejudice (1813), Sense and Sensibility (1811), and Mansfield Park (1814), this analysis explores how Austen's satire and narrative resolutions uphold class stability, traditional gender roles, and marriage as an economic necessity, thereby limiting women's autonomy within the confines of societal norms. Drawing on historical context and scholarly debates, the paper contends that Austen's conservative leanings reflect the era's constraints, prioritizing social harmony over radical change.
Keywords	Regency England, Patriarchal structures ,Gender roles, Marriage (economic necessity), and Social harmony.
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-03-30

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