Questions and Answers
What are the four cardinal virtues associated with the Cult of Domesticity?
What is the main focus of the Cult of Domesticity?
The woman's role within the home
The Cult of Domesticity included women from all classes equally.
False
What did the term 'True Women' refer to?
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According to the Cult of Domesticity, where was a woman's 'proper sphere'?
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Which ideology overlaps with the Cult of Domesticity?
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What was regarded as a woman's greatest treasure in the context of purity?
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How did the Cult of Domesticity affect married women's employment?
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What tasks were considered naturally feminine according to the ideology of Domesticity?
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What was the societal consequence of women's financial dependence on their husbands as promoted by the Cult of Domesticity?
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Study Notes
Cult of Domesticity
- Describes a 19th-century value system in the U.S. and Britain among the upper and middle classes.
- Emphasized ideals of femininity, the woman's role in the home, and work-family dynamics.
- "True women" were expected to embody four cardinal virtues: piety, purity, domesticity, and submissiveness.
- Women were considered the "light of the home," central to family life.
- Promoted primarily by white, Protestant individuals, especially from New England and the Northeast.
- Excluded black, working-class, and immigrant women from the definition of "true women" due to prevailing social prejudices.
- Historical analysis has evolved, suggesting a more complex understanding of women's roles, which included contradictions that may have contributed to feminism.
Virtues of "Womanhood"
- Defined within the separate spheres ideology, positioning the home as women's "proper sphere."
- Women were tasked with household management, child-rearing, and caring for husbands.
- Expected characteristics of "True Women" included delicacy and avoidance of strenuous activities.
- Competing view, "Real Womanhood," encouraged physical fitness, community involvement, and education within the domestic context.
- Literature and magazines of the time provided guidelines on home transformation and maintaining fashion to please husbands.
Piety
- Valued as it kept women within the home and restrained their desires, contrasting with intellectual pursuits.
Purity
- Virginity was regarded as a woman's greatest asset, with expectations surrounding fidelity to husbands after marriage.
Submission
- True women were expected to be obedient and submissive, with a belief that men held superiority ordained by God.
Domesticity
- A woman's rightful place was in the home, creating a nurturing environment for her family.
- Domestic activities included cooking, needlework, and gardening; reading non-religious literature was often discouraged.
Influence of The Cult of Domesticity
- Limited married women's participation in the labor market in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with only 4.5% being employed in 1890 compared to 40.5% of single women.
- Reinforced financial dependence on husbands, creating challenges for women facing the loss of a spouse through death or abandonment.
- Established a societal divide between the domestic and public spheres, impacting women's power and status in society.
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Description
This quiz focuses on key concepts from Chapters 10 to 12 of American history, including the Cult of Domesticity. Test your understanding of the societal norms and values that characterized the lives of women in the 19th century. Ideal for students preparing for exams or reviewing course materials.
