![Great Divide Back ground Great Divide Back ground](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Great Divide Border](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Great Divide Hero Old shoe](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![The Great Divide](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Great Divide hero new shoe](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Great divide line](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Footwear in the Age ofEnlightenment](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Great Divide Slide](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
Some argued that all people had inherent social and political rights. These ideas challenged longstanding social hierarchies and ushered in dreams of personal liberty and egalitarian rule. Others advocated for the reordering of social hierarchies using ‘scientific’ proof to divide people through the identification of ‘natural’ differences such as gender and race. Much of the oppression and imperialism that marked the period was supported by these ideas.
Throughout the 18th century, fashion, including footwear, was central to the “naturalization” of difference in Europe. Distinctions between men and women, children and adults, Europeans and “others” became increasingly codified through clothing. Yet, European fashion was also used to blur the lines between classes as social mobility and access to consumable goods grew as a result of imperialism. A close examination of 18th century footwear reveals a great deal about the power dynamics of the period. It also gives insight into the shoes we wear today.
Closes March 27, 2023 at 5pm.
![Great Divide Back ground Great Divide Back ground](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![web-patter](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1760-80, English 1760-80, English](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1760-80, English](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1730-40, English 1730-40, English](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1730-40, English](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1780-85, English 1780-85, English](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1780-85, English](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1750-90, French 1750-90, French](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1750-90, French](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Early 1800s, Myaamia Early 1800s, Myaamia](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Early 1800s, Myaamia](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![18th c, Indian/English 18th c, Indian/English](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![18th c, Indian/English](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1790s, American 1790s, American](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1790s, American](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1720-40, English 1720-40, English](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1720-40, English](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Great Divide Slide](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![p85-0102](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![web-patter Slide](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Government Sponsor: Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Media Sponsor: Toronto Star](http://batashoemuseum.ca/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)