The Cult of True Womanhood by Barbara Welter - Essay Example

The Cult of True Womanhood In Barbara Welter’s article “The Cult of True Womanhood,” Welters describes what it means and what it takes to be a true woman. Welter’s describes at length the different and numerous things that a woman must be learned and active in, as well as those things that were better off to be left alone, or left for a man to tend to. A woman was to be religious, pure, submissive, and domestic – without these qualities, she could hardly be considered a woman. “Without them, no matter whether there was fame, achievement or wealth, all was ashes. With them she was promised happiness and power (152).” The main argument of the article was that a woman was not a woman unless she met those aforementioned qualities, and that she was nothing less. If she was not compassionate, agreeable, or useful, she served no purpose and was considered to be a waste of a woman. If a woman wanted to be a true woman, it was wise for her to take the advice of the many women’s magazines that were in publication, as they acted as almost guidelines to make a woman more pleasing at home and in society. A woman was to be dependent on her husband as well as her religion. If a woman had a good religious upbringing, then the rest of her fine qualities would be quick to follow. Religion was said to be a woman’s source of strength, and that women should use this religious strength to help pull the world from its sin – to do the opposite of what Eve had done.Without religion and a husband, a woman would be unhappy and incomplete. A woman was also only required – and desired to have – a religious education and nothing more (at least nothing to suggest that she might have an intellectual thought that stemmed from her own intelligence, as opposed to her husband’s). Welter’s states that it is better for a woman “to pray than to think (153).” A woman was viewed in high regards if she took her religion seriously. A woman’s place was in her home, plain and simple. This is one of the reasons why religion was seen as a good and pleasing thing, as a woman was perfectly capable of staying her wonderful and pure self within any religious situation, as opposed to other activities or movements. If she spent more of her time at home, then there were fewer chances of her mingling with the wrong crowds and societies and ruining her purity. By being limited to only her home, a woman would improve upon her values and morals, as well as the “guidelines” of being a true woman, increasing her usefulness to her husband and her children. The evidence that Welter’s gives to support her argument are pieces of advice and excerpts from all sorts of women’s literature – such as woman’s magazines and religious literature that kept a woman in her proper place. These pieces of literature were viewed and used as guides to help women become and stay true women. The majority of women during that time – the writers and the readers alike – followed these written pieces of work and believed what they had to say, so they lived strictly by them. Whether or not they actually read these works, they still lived a lifestyle that was described by them: they were perfect little housewives and mothers. To further support her argument, Welter’s compares the works of true women to the works of failed woman – women who stepped out of the mold and decided to become something other than housewives. These were the women that true women were warned against, the ones that were looked down upon. Their literature spoke of a life outside of the home, and that was something that was simply unheard of during those years. A woman’s place was in the home, tending to house, husband, and children. The antebellum in the United States and Welter’s ideal true woman go hand-in-hand. Welter’s descriptions of the expectations of the true woman are what were most found in women during the antebellum. During that time, girls were taught and learned in the ways of being a feminine woman – they were given the same education as the boys, yet they were also taught how to fit in the roles that “God intended for them,” which is that of a mother and a housewife. It was a vital part of growing up for girls, learning all the possible ways to be the perfect female, while also learning the many ways that could strip them of the unspoken “true woman” title. It was also during the antebellum that young girls and older women were expected to show off their womanly skills without being too open or obvious about it. They were required to go to parties and gatherings and mingle among the crowds, letting their attitudes and personalities speak for their “accomplishments.” I do find Welter’s argument persuasive as she not only has a wonderful amount of sources to back her up, but she is also able to describe the importance that women play as their roles of mother and housewife. Women should be regarded as kind, loving people, and should not be viewed as anything less. Men are the tougher, less thoughtful and compassionate of the two species, so it is up to the women to make up for that. It is also up to them to remember their place at home and in society, in accordance to what God expects of them, as they should live by religious rules. Welter’s argument is also very convincing, again for the same reasons that she is able to not only mention and describe what a true woman is, but she is also able to point out and describe why women should be that way. She is able to make women feel important despite the fact that, in truth, they are required to do less than men, physically, yet it is up to them to keep everything functioning and under control within the home. Read More