Penny Dreadful2014

[Lily and Victor Frankenstein discuss his reason for picking out her corset to wear]

Lily:
So, women wear corsets so they don't exert themselves?

Dr. Victor Frankenstein:
Partly.

Lily:
What would be the danger if they did?

Dr. Victor Frankenstein:
They'd take over the world.

Dr. Victor Frankenstein:
[Lily smiles] The only way we men prevent that is by keeping women corseted. In theory... and in practice. They're meant to flatter the figure.

Lily:
To a man's eye, anyway. All we do is for men, isn't it. Keep their houses... raise their children, flatter them with our pain.