In the 1840s, labor reform was a highly politicized topic. A lot of reform was happening in an attempt to address some of the labor issues recently brought to light. In response to public outcries, the Governess Benevolent Institution was founded in London in 1841. It's purpose was to assist governesses during illness, poverty, and old age. It also brought attention to the public of some of the horrible working conditions governesses were subjected to. This institution served to mainly formalize the profession. Though women had been working in this role for years, there were no established protections for them. This institution brought to light these issues surrounding "the invisible governess" and aimed to support women in this profession and give them a voice. Along with poor working conditions and low wages, governesses also faced social prejudices daily within the households who employed them. Many authors at the time, including Gaskell, Bronte, and Carroll, centered their literary works on this on going class issue. Women who could work as governesses had to have an education ad they also often came from either middle class or even upper class families who were desperate for the money. This meant that very little actually separated these women from the families they worked for. They were often from well known families and were just as educated as the people they worked for, yet they were treated very differently. Changing how a governess was seen became the personal mission of the Institution. 

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