Were Separate Spheres a natural evolution from the Industrialization of America?

U. S. Economy 1820s Men worked in factories Men worked in factories Husbands left home to work – led to the belief that men alone should support the familyHusbands left home to work – led to the belief that men alone should support the family Work was rough – men did whatever was necessary to surviveWork was rough – men did whatever was necessary to survive Full of violence, temptations, troubleFull of violence, temptations, trouble

U. S. Economy 1820s Women stayed home with children Women stayed home with children Weak and delicate creaturesWeak and delicate creatures Could fall prey to worldly vicesCould fall prey to worldly vices Better off at homeBetter off at home Clear Boundaries Clear Boundaries Public Sphere – World of Work - MenPublic Sphere – World of Work - Men Private Sphere – World of home - WomenPrivate Sphere – World of home - Women

The Cult of Womanhood Piety – Propensity for religion Piety – Propensity for religion Seen as the new Eve (Adam)Seen as the new Eve (Adam) Cleansing the world of sin through suffering and pure loveCleansing the world of sin through suffering and pure love Believed to help soothe their restless mindsBelieved to help soothe their restless minds

The Cult of Womanhood Purity – highly revered Purity – highly revered Women would be brought to hysteria and tears at the thought of not being pure for their husbandWomen would be brought to hysteria and tears at the thought of not being pure for their husband This even changed the language of the timeThis even changed the language of the time Limbs for legs Limbs for legs White meat for breast meat White meat for breast meat

The Cult of Womanhood Submissiveness Submissiveness Women were to be passive bystandersWomen were to be passive bystanders Reflected in the clothing of the 19 th centuryReflected in the clothing of the 19 th century Tight corsets Tight corsets Large numbers of undergarments Large numbers of undergarments Heavy over dresses Heavy over dresses Restricted physical mobility Restricted physical mobility

The Cult of Womanhood Domesticity – woman’s place was in the home Domesticity – woman’s place was in the home Uplifting task aimed to maintain piety and purityUplifting task aimed to maintain piety and purity HouseworkHousework Keep the home cheerful peaceful placeKeep the home cheerful peaceful place Designed to attract men from the outside world of vices and evilsDesigned to attract men from the outside world of vices and evils

The Family Unit No longer an economic unit No longer an economic unit Emergence of the market economy Emergence of the market economy No value placed on women’s work No value placed on women’s work Privacy and home became a self- contained unit Privacy and home became a self- contained unit Women expected to uphold values of Women expected to uphold values of StabilityStability MoralityMorality DemocracyDemocracy

Separate Sphere Ideology Women were different from men Women were different from men Physical and mentally inferior – smaller in size therefore smaller brain Physical and mentally inferior – smaller in size therefore smaller brain Women had less physical stamina – seen as weak and delicate Women had less physical stamina – seen as weak and delicate Believed female nervous system was finer and more irritable and prone to fatigue Believed female nervous system was finer and more irritable and prone to fatigue

Separate Sphere Ideology Women were advised to direct attention toward healthy reproduction Women were advised to direct attention toward healthy reproduction Avoid strong emotions - could damage their organs Avoid strong emotions - could damage their organs

Separate Sphere Implications Society divided into two “natural” classes Society divided into two “natural” classes Male Sphere – create economic empire through hard work and individual achievement Male Sphere – create economic empire through hard work and individual achievement Female Sphere – insure social order and moral stability through domestic activities Female Sphere – insure social order and moral stability through domestic activities Private life would provide moral foundation for public activity Private life would provide moral foundation for public activity

Were Separate Spheres a natural evolution from the Industrialization of America?