American Women History - Essay Example

American Women History Introduction The cult of true womanhood is an event in history that took place between 1820 to 1860 in American history whereby gender defined their roles in the society. The awareness of public and private domains is normally seen in historic writings that came into existence during the industrial revolution. Men were to be seen in public spheres while women remain in the private spheres of home so that they do not compete with their husbands in social life. The trendy of true womanhood classifies definite features to which a woman must aspire that revolve around piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity (Keistar 2011, p.45). Due to their bravery, some women were able to live up these ideals and even moved beyond the home to take charge in other areas of the society. True womanhood captures the period in which the American man was busy building bridges and railroads and was working long hours in the materialistic society. The period cult of true womanhood of the 19th century saw a lot of gender based tribulations that formed the benchmark for all the achievements that are embedded in today’s gender equality. Religion and Women Religious piety was the core of a woman’s virtue and the source of her strength and this was so serious that young men who were looking for women were advised to look for piety as a first choice in their desires. Women promoted religion in the society since this is exactly what a woman needed to get her dignity and dependence on the society. Religion allowed women to participate actively in society development, while at the same time ensured that a woman remains within her spheres of home. The attributes of true womanhood enabled a woman to relate properly with her husband since they were not in a position to judge them on moral grounds. “Female piety was viewed as a hand of God, since it enabled a woman to have dignity and respect in the society” (Barbara 1966, p.152). Religion played a very important role in the lives of Americans in the 19th century as a dominant institution that needs to be respected by everyone. The church thus played an important role in how others perceived the women and how they were perceived in return. Being religious in the American society enabled women to maintain their spirituality and this formed the core of a woman’s quality that is desirable by all members of the society. The church lessons were not contradictory to the general societys expectation that help defined their role and place in the country. Women were in most cases at home and avoided public spheres that were largely dominated by men. Church enabled women to properly balance their home and spiritual duties in such a way that enabled them to stay peacefully with their husbands. Since women knew that they were pure and good, this notion gave them hope and some sense of control over their men. This ensures a balance in the society as they undertake their daily duties. This also enabled women to become homemakers who comfort and give social support to their men as they play their role in the society. Religious teaching expected women to sacrifice their personal and egoistic wishes and this is evident from the kind of advice women received from their mothers that expected them to accept their husbands perspective on every aspect of life. Religion also affected the sexual freedom of women at that time since women were thought to be naturally religious and pure and had to maintain their virginity until marriage. “Women who lost their greatest virtues were considered social outcast and such acts were condemned by all members of the society” (Barbara 1977, p.43). Purity was considered one of the most important virtues of women and marriage was a necessary stage that had to be honored. Currently, the woman is transforming her place in religious spheres. Both men and women view and uphold religion with the same effects on their lifestyles. Media, Education and Women Apart from religion, media and education system played an important objective in determining the trendy of real womanhood in the American society. Whenever they were outside the church and far from their religious roles, women gained their knowledge of the world primarily through women’s magazines and other media sources. The media houses enabled women to be enlightened since the formal education system was largely dominated by men hence out of women. The education system during that time was seen as harmful to women as that could distract them from their family chores and societal roles. Education was somewhat partially accepted for women to give them the basics of living in the society. Some of the courses that women were accepted to pursue were nursing that enable them take good care of the family members as they fall sick or faced with other health problems (DuBois & Dumenil 2005, p.23). Education was a powerful role in mens lives, but was largely seen as a threat to womens lives. Intellectual enrichment was looked down upon as something that is counterproductive to the lives and productivity of women. “The men created a lot of myths and stereotypes that were mean to discourage and prevent women from pursuing education” (Keistar 2011, p.63). Some of the myths developed to discourage women from pursuing education are that they would develop thin waist and lose their feminine qualities if they are educated, this discouraged most women from the education system. In the partial education, the womens magazine prepared them for their roles in the family since they mostly portrayed staying at home as being patriotic and brave. Today, women have overcome the myths that surrounded their education to pursue all courses and reach the highest levels of education, possibly reached by men (Clarke 2006, p.140). Women as responsible mothers Women were highly pressured into the cult of womanhood by various social institutions that were predominantly controlled by men. Men held many powers in the society, and due to this, most of their views were accepted in the society. However, women were themselves a source of influence of the society in several ways. The fact that they were socialized into being homemakers and homemakers for decades prepared the next generation of women into being responsible women in the society. The next generations of women were brought up in such a way that they become responsible for their children’s upbringing to make them responsible citizens in society. Impact of Domesticity The cult of womanhood affected married women’s labor market participation, thus influencing their financial status in the society. All married women faced a lot of pressure when their husbands passed away, thus making them susceptible to financial difficulties as they attempt to fend for their families. The separation between domestic and public domains had an influence on women’s power and status since they have no political say. This ideology also had legal implications for the legislative body passed laws that limited employment opportunities for women as compared to men. The laws were also encouraged by court rulings that supported the notion that a womans primary role is embedded in the homestead as a wife. This resulted in limitation of working hours for women and night duties were solely meant for men. Eventually, many women were laid off from their jobs while others were totally excluded from their occupations. Today, women occupy anomalous positions in various workplaces like men and are equally respected for their abilities to deliver. There are large numbers of women in learning institutions taking course similar to those pursued by men. Unlike the past, women of today are virtually present in all working environments, enjoying similar pay like men (Boydston 1996, p.194). Conclusion Women underwent a lot of social discrimination at the hands of men during the period of 19th and 20th centuries. They were denied good education that could enable them to prosper in their social lives. Their roles were mainly confined to the church and homesteads to take care of their children and husbands. Due to this, they were unable to enjoy the social status enjoyed by men. Despite these problems, the women stood for their rights and advocated for equal treatment that they receive today. It is true to say that a man and a woman have equal capabilities and should thus be afforded a fair treatment. Man is not superior to a woman, thus, the relation of the sexes is one of equality, not of better and worse. In as much as the sexes are different, both have the same capabilities and thus can play similar roles in the society. Today, some women equated and occasionally surpassed men in physical labour, intellectual effort, and loft heroism, an appropriate proof that both sexes are the same. It is true that the problems faced by women during the period referred to as the cult of womanhood enabled them to transform their lives and disprove the notion that one sex is superior to the other. The economic transformations laid the foundation of equality that is enjoyable to both sexes. References Boydston, J. (1996). The Woman Who wasn’t there: Womens Market Labor and the Transition to Capitalism in the United States. Journal of the Early Republic, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 183-206 Clarke, E.H. (2006). Sex in Education. A fair change for girls. Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18504/18504-h/18504-h.htm> DuBois, E & Dumenil, L. (2005). Through Womens Eyes: An American History. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins. Keistar, L. (2011). Inequality: A Contemporary Approach to Race, Class, and Gender. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Barbara, W. (1966). "The Cult of True Womanhood: 1820–1860". American Quarterly 18 (2): 151–174. Barbara, W. (1977). Dimity Convictions: The American Woman in the Nineteenth Century. Ohio University Press. Read More