Introduction:


One of the most defining aspects of life in America during the 19Th century was the role that women had in society. It is uncanny to think of the differences between the position of women today and the position of women during that time period. Women were expected to mind the house and watch the children. It was thought wrong for women to be educated like men. The Cult of Domesticity eventually evolved out of these ideas. This four part “cult” epitomized the perfect women. These four parts included domesticity, piety, purity, and submissiveness. Although some of the aspects of the cult were heavily followed, women were often angry about the little respect they received. Many women began to fight for their rights. Because the Cult of Domesticity was extremely difficult to follow, women didn’t question radicals amongst them. the unfeasible expectations set by the Cult of Domesticity instigated changes in the extent to which its elements were followed.


I am aware that this introduction needs A LOT of work...

Weaknesses :(

In order to be successful in this project, I will need to further research all of the topics in order to have a sufficient amount of information. I will also need to get more resources, mainly books.

Thesis: The unfeasible expectations set by the Cult of Domesticity instigated change in the extent to which its elements were followed.


Outline:

A. Intro

B. Cult of Domesticity:
I. Domesticity
1.Definition/Overview
2. Alice Morse Earle
II. Piety
1. Definition/Overview
2. Background of religion during this time period
III. Purity:
1.Definition/Overview
2. Dating rituals?
IV. Submissiveness
1. Definition/Overview
2. Scientific Sexism
C. Examples of Women breaking the cult
-more research needed….

D. Conclusion

Thesis

Thesis: Although some of the elements of the Cult of Domesticity held true, many women did not follow all of the expectations.

Negatives:
-Not a lot of information on the topic.
-Not a lot of solid sources.

Positives:
-Interesting

Interior Decorating-

Interior design and decorating in America had many changes over its generations. The main styles America experienced started at Gothic then traveled to Elizabethan and finally Rococo. Rococco style is a French style that made every room so decorated that it was seen as a work of art. Small, delicate sculptures were used to accentuate the room. Tapestries that displayed rich culture were also used in the rooms. Elegant furniture The main influence on American interior design was from Europe. This created a problem for Americans because they were trying to separate themselves from England. Most Americans wanted to set up their own distinct "American Style". Wood panelling was now only used on walls for molding above the height of chairs and the most elaborate wood in the house would be found on the mantel, doors, and window frames. This wood was enriched with intricate carvings. Rich colors were used for curtains to cover windows and also on the fabric of the sofas and chairs. Walls were kept lighter to balance out these colors and were usually painted light gray or white. Later on, walls were covered with brick-printed wall paper or, in simpler homes, stencilled designs were made.

Citation:
"Interior Design." Britannica.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2010.
Late-18th-to-early-20th-centuries-in-the-US>.

Alice Morse Earle

Alice Morse Earle was an American historian and author during the 19Th century. She was born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1851. Her writing was very important in understand the social aspect of life during this time period. She mainly focused on Colonial America, mainly in New England. Morse Earle began writing due to the wishes of her father. Her focus on social life and cultural aspects made her a pioneer for writers of social history. Morse Earle followed the beliefs of Darwinism and the idea of “survival of the fittest”. She documented many examples of domesticity in the colonies and during this time period and many of her perspectives can be seen in her writing. Some things Morse Earle believed in include temperance, the abstinence of alcohol. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution but did not partake in any movements that were too radical or involved the fight for women’s suffrage. Her focus on family life and domesticity did not earn Alice Morse Earle the respect she deserved, and even today her work is isn't taken very seriously by other historians. Near the end of her life, Morse Earle grew ill after falling in the ocean due to a boat crash. Alice Morse Earle died in 1911. Her most famous works include; Colonial Dames and Good Wives, Child Life in Colonial Days, and Customs and Fashions in Old New England.

Citation:
Lewis, Jone Johnson. "Alice Morse Earle." about.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb.
2010. alicemorseearle.htm>.

Scientific Sexism

Scientific Sexism was a new study created to have scientific evidence and support for proving women inferior to men. They were seen as physically smaller and therefore had less stamina. This was due to the fact that they fainted more, which was most likely because of the tight-lacing used in their clothing. They were also proved inferior because they were physically incapacitated monthly due to menstruation. It was also said that a women’s nervous system was weaker and more prone to fatigue due to the reproduction system. Women were also seen intellectually inferior. Ability of the brain was measured in a brain to body ratio. Men said women had smaller brains and were therefore unable to keep up intellectually with men. This was taken back when it was proven that the brain to body ration of women is in fact higher than that of men. Women were expected to channel all of their energies into reproduction. Most of the accusations proved nothing and were vague evidence for the sexism that spread throughout the 19Th century.

Citation
Lavender. "The Cult of Domesticity and True Womanhood."
www.library.csi.cuny.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2010.
truewoman.html>.

Purity:Four of the Four Ideals of Womenhood

Purity as an ideal strongly referred to a women’s virginity. To lose purity before marriage was one of the worst sins a women could commit. She was almost immediately ostracized from society. Stories about these women usually had the character dying in poor conditions to assure women this was not the life they wanted. This time involved an extremely strict conduct of purity. Legs of tables and chairs were all covered so they would not remind people of human limbs. Also, male and female authors were to be separated on the bookcase. This “purity fetish” is what lead to creation of stories that involved the stork bringing babies to families. A women’s sexual virtue was considered her most valuable possession and was even considered the only power that a women could hold over a male.

Citation:
Lavender. "The Cult of Domesticity and True Womanhood."
www.library.csi.cuny.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2010.
truewoman.html>.

Submissiveness:Three of the Four Ideals of Womanhood

Submissiveness is defined as “unresistingly or humbly obedient”. During the 19Th century, this was highly expected of all women. The men were never to be submissive and took control of life. Women were to submit to fate, God, and to men in society. Clothing played a large part in reinforcing the passiveness of women. Their corsets worn under dresses pinch organs and made it difficult to breathe. Also, the amount of clothing was numerous and made it extremely to move. A true woman knew how to ask for wisdom and loyalty and in return was willing to surrender all of her affection and fully submit to her spouse. This idea is expressed in George Burnap’s The Sphere and Duties of Woman. The quote, “A really sensible women feels her dependence. She does what she can, but is conscious of her inferiority and therefore grateful for support.” perfectly epitomizes men’s view of the submissiveness of women.

Citation:
Lavender. "The Cult of Domesticity and True Womanhood."
www.library.csi.cuny.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2010.
truewoman.html>.

Piety: Two of the Four Ideals of Womanhood

Piety is defined as reverence for God or devout fulfillment of religious obligations. In other words, women of the 19Th century were expected to be extremely religious. The idea of women is said to have related to Eve and work with God to free the world from sin by displaying her purity and "passionless love". Religion was an acceptable interest for women because they could learn about it in their homes. A quote that sums up the ideal of piety is, "godless, no women, mother tho she be."

citation:
Lavender. "The Cult of Domesticity and True Womanhood."
www.library.csi.cuny.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2010.
truewoman.html>.

Domesticity: Part One of the Four Ideals of Womanhood

As previously stated, the role of women was largely focused on maintaining the home life. Women were supposed to always be busy bettering themselves and keeping up with their piety and purity (two more of the four ideals). Women had an almost ridiculous list of activities they could participate in. These activities included housework, needlework, and crafts. A list of rights for the "true women" states they had: "The right to love whom others scorn, The right to comfort and to mourn, The right to shed new joy on earth, The right to feel the soul's high worth...". In their homes, women were expected to create a refugee from the harsh world men had to live in. Men were in the work force and were expected to have harsh and shrewd personalities. Their home was supposed to be where they were able to show their "human side". Women were obligated to create an environment in which a man could express his softer side. The role of a home shifted from being seen as a piece of the community for its function to being seen as an "isolation" from the outer world.

Citation:
Lavender. "The Cult of Domesticity and True Womanhood."
www.library.csi.cuny.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2010.
truewoman.html>.

Domestic Role of Women during the 19th Century; An overview

It is often noted that the mane role of women during this time period was to take care of the family. “Domestic Goddess” is the term commonly used to describe what the common women wanted to achieve in life. Along with taking care of their home, women were expected to be religious and moral as well. If they even acted the slightest bit immoral, they were immediately outcast as sinners. In one artice, it is said that women were seen as the “Moral backbone of society.“ There were no career goals and taking care of the family and household was very much seen as an occupation. It was often an exchange of roles and the opposite gender heavily relied on the other’s role in the marriage. The men were depended on primarily for an income and economic support. They provided shelter and food. The women were to provide fostering and care for the children. Although both men and women were often not happy with their roles, women managed by trying to epitomize a homemaker and be the best wife possible. They men usually took pride in being able to provide for the family. Even though their roles were at opposite sides of the spectrum, most people during this era respect the opposite gender and their role. It is said they were nearly seen as equals, though women did not have equal rights in society.

Citation:
Anderson, Lori. "Marriage and Women from 19th Century On." Cyberparent.com. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 7 Jan. 2010. http://www.cyberparent.com/women/ marriage5.htm.

Serrano, Carey. "19th Century Female Domesticity: The American and European
Ideal." accd.edu. N.p., 26 Nov. 2001. Web. 7 Jan. 2010.
.

Sigmund Freud
Freud was an Austrian neurologist who made advances in the fields of psychology. He made many developments in the research of intimate relationships in the late 1800s. He was born on May 6, 1856 in a town that is now part of the Czech Republic but later moved to Vienna. He was the oldest of 8 children. He founded the first school of psychoanalysis. Freud throughout his life stressed he was first and foremost a scientist, though many people are still today skeptical about many of his greatest works, and therefore felt it necessary to go to medical school. He then enrolled at the University of Vienna. At first, his focus was on biology but he later came to study neurology. Through his studies, Freud linked early childhood experiences to the later selection of a partner. He is the founder of the theory involving Psycho sexual Development. Freud also explained why a person is most likely to be attracted to a person of the opposite gender that resembles the parent of the opposite gender.

citation: Thornton, Stephen P. "Sigmund Freud (1856—1939)." ieo.utm.eu. N.p., n.d. Web. 4
Jan. 2010. .

Married Women’s Property Act of 1848, New York State-

Previous to these types of acts being passed in the states, women had no right to handle the property she owned previous to the marriage or obtain any new property. Women could also not control their wages, create contracts, or file a lawsuit when married. Having no rights when in a marriage made women less willing to partake in it. Small changes, such as changing the rights of married women, have made relationships what they are today. The act stated three main points. The first included information about the property owned by the woman previous to the marriage. It stated that she would retain power of the property. The act states, “…shall continue her sole and separate property, as if she were a single female.” The second statement of the act says that the profits from any property are no longer controlled by the man. The third portion of this act says that a married woman may now inherit and be given property that solely belongs to her. These acts were specific to each state but wholly changed property rights of women. Although it was a small step, this was the beginning of women having more power and options in a relationship.

citation:Lewis, Jone Johnson. "Married Women's Property Act: 1848, New York State."
About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Jan. 2010.
property_1848ny.htm>.