The Victorians Meet the Modern

Family Life in Victorian America Victorian domesticity called for clearly defined gender roles The Gilded Age challenged traditional notions of a woman’s place in society Modernity challenged traditional values: freedom to choose The average family got smaller over time Nursing Comstock law

Education during the Victorian Age High school education became more important Girls attended high school in large numbers High school attendance increased with compulsory laws Co-educational high school

College Education in Victorian America College attendance was about 2% Liberal arts degrees became more prominent Pioneered at Harvard Booker T. Washington Up from Slavery Tuskegee Institute Accomodationist

Women in Higher Education Enrolled in Land-Grant colleges Single-sex schools (Northeast and South) Co-ed (Mid-west and West) Increased demand for teacher- training schools Colleges begin to offer competitive sports for women Vassar Vassar women’s baseball team: 1876

The Rise of Sports Definition of masculinity Economic success Sports become a way of displaying masculinity YMCA built gymnasiums across America. YWCA followed later Professional baseball—1876 Segregated leagues emerged as well Outdoor activity became popular

Environmentalism before the Progressive Era Environment should be conquered Transcendentalists City Beautiful Movement Public control of wilderness becomes a Progressive goal

Teddy Roosevelt and Environmentalism Roosevelt’s personal values embraced the wilderness and manly savagery Advocated the “strenuous life” Culturally: outdoor living became faddish in the 1890s, i.e., the Boy Scouts, camping TR will establish himself as a wise use conservationist 1897 McKinley sets aside 21 million acres for National Parks Roosevelt expands both the park system and national forests

Women in the Public Sphere More women began to claim a role beyond the household Reform efforts Political action Women took a larger role in home economics—consumerism Department stores catered to women Tea rooms Areas for children

Morality to Feminism Women’s Clubs Originated in New England Focused on: Cultural literacy Reform Woman suffrage Social Housekeeping Clubs broadened women’s sphere Black women created their own clubs

Temperance Movement WCTU became the largest women’s organization to that time 176,000 members Chapters in every state Frances Willard Also a suffragist Encouraged women to cross racial lines Suffrage movement unifies as the NAWSA Frances Willard