The English Miss, German Fräulein and French Mademoiselle: foreign governesses and national stereotyping in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Europe

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In nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Europe, the age of the governess coincided with the age of nationalism. This paper explores the connection between them in the specific context of intercultural education by foreign governesses. It argues that nationalism, with its focus on the identification and projection of a distinct national character, led to the stereotyping of European countries and, by extension, the stereotyping of foreign governesses. It further contends that the clichéd images of the English Miss, German Fräulein and French Mademoiselle, which were international, powerful and largely negative, had, on the whole, a detrimental effect on governesses and their working relationships with employers and pupils. It concludes that stereotyping along national lines adversely affected both visitor and host by promoting formulaic and prejudicial attitudes one to the other.