>>As a woman, I can really appreciate many of the inventions since the victorian period! There are some things I love about that period, but I wouldn't want to be a woman without money (and maids and servants) during that time. :o)
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>This'll make the guys cringe, but in my view, two of the best inventions of the 20th century were the sanitary napkin and the tampon.
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>Tamar

I'd agree. They had a TV series a few years ago, where a family had to live in a Victorian house, restored to its original state, and live the Victorian life for several weeks. The girls hated the rough soap (made from animal fat) and the state of their hands and limp, lifeless hair.

The programme, I think, did touch on the lack of modern conveniences like you mentioned. I think there was a lot of boiling going on in the house :-)

We've also had an American similar series with pioneer families.