1. Catherine Beecher The Domestic Economy

2. Catherine Beecher Born 1800 in Massachusetts Family one of the most well known Abolitionists and authors Fiance died in shipwreck Never marries

3. Pioneer 1823-1841 Established female seminaries focused on women’s education and preparation for future role in society  classical curriculum and scientific studies to prepare a woman for the domestic arts.  What might these studies entail?

4. Legal Status of Women What is the ‘legal status’ of women today? 19 th century Limited property rights No suffrage Cult of True Womenhood Women VOLUNTARILY surrender role in political sphere  “In order to secure her more firmly in all these privileges, it is decided that in the domestic relation, she take a subordinate station, and that in civil and political concerns, her interests be intrusted to the other sex.”

5. Treatise on Domestic Economy 1841 Separate spheres Women’s role is in the home Argues that women have neglected role, and have been less valued by men as result o Reveres traditional role of women as wife and mother, but expands the limits of those roles

6. The Female Sphere  Links the role of wife and mother to economic and political currents of mid 19th century  What is changing? What are these currents?  Home as essential part of national system of cultural maintenance and improvement.

7. Beecher on the Spheres Men’s sphere Public life Politics Business Ambition Achievement Women’s sphere Private life Family Persuasion Living for others ‘anything that throws a woman into the attitude a combatant throws her out of her appropriate sphere.’

8. The Importance of the Spheres “It is allowed…that the safety and happiness of this nation depends upon having the children educated, and not only intellectually, but morally and religiously. There are now nearly 2 million children and adults in this country who cannot read, and who have no schools of any kind.” (continued)

9. On Duty “[this]…will demand 30,000 teachers; and 6,000 more will be needed every year, barely to meet the increase of juvenile population..Where is this army of teachers to be found? Is it all probable that the other sex will afford even a moderate portion of this supply?” (continued)

10. Why not men? “The field for enterprise and excitement in the political arena, in the arts, the sciences, the liberal professions, in agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, is opening with such temptations…Will men turn aside from these high and exciting objects to become the patient laborers in the schoolroom, and for only the small pittance that rewards such toil? No, they will not do it.”

11. Ensuring the Status of Women “The drudgery of education…will be given to the female hand. And as the value of education [and the importance of the teacher] rises in the public mind, women will more and more be furnished with those intellectual advantages which they need to fit them for such duties.” (continued)

12. But… “But if the females, as they approach the other sex, in intellectual elevation, begin to claim, or to exercise in any manner, the peculiar prerogatives of that sex, education will be a dangerous blessing. But this will never be the result. For the more intelligent a woman becomes, the more she can appreciate the wisdom of that ordinance that appointed her subordinate station, and the more her taste will conform to the graceful and dignified retirement and submission it involves.” What might this attitude indicate about the focus of her curriculum and the general public perception of women?

13. Oh, These Women Today! Why Write? Women Less well trained and prepared for domestic duties than ever before Why? Need for a comprehensive discussion of child care, home economics, duties of a wife and homemaker

14. ‘Qualitative’ Motherhood 90% of women marry by 23 Why marry so early? Children! Beecher concerned with high infant mortality rates and phenomenon of ‘invalidism’ among wives

15. The Roots of ‘Invalidism’ Believed that women did not experience sexual passion equal to men Sexual ‘expenditures’ drained both sexes Women were particularly ill suited, but obligated by marriage Men constantly complained about lack of relations with wives WHY would wives be reluctant to have relations?

16. ‘Invalidism’ A contraception strategy? o Many women simply claimed to “feel no life, no energy, no appetite, or rather a growing distaste for food…” Ill effects of repeated childbirth! Beecher: problem was that women simply not as prepared for ‘life’s work’ as they should be; need to prepare for their domesticity as men prepared for vocations

17. The Purpose of Female Education Women need to create the next generation of Americans Curriculum centered around preparing women to embrace the domestic economy and qualitative motherhood Prepare women for their ‘life’s work’

18. The Curriculum Design and implementation of effective and efficient methods of: Cleaning Organizing Sewing Decorating Sound financial planning Planning and prep of healthful foods Proper care of sick, servants, animals PHYSICAL EDUCATION MORAL EDUCATION OF CHILDREN

19. Why Physical Education? Women spent too much time early in life on intellectual development Less emphasis on mental stimulation would avoid women ‘burning out’ Physical education (‘calisthenics’) was more important, at least early Prepared women for demands of marriage and motherhood

20. The Moral Education of Children “The success of democratic institutions, as conceded by all, depends on the intelligent and moral character of the mass of the people…It is equally conceded, that the formation of the moral and intelligent character of the young is committed mainly to the female hand.” Treatise on Domestic Economy Home and school were omnipotent societal forces that required complete attention