The Cult of True Womanhood Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Who wrote 'The Cult of True Womanhood'?

Barbara Welter

What does Victorianism emphasize?

Middle class respectability during the reign of Queen Victoria.

Which of the following were emphasized in True Womanhood? (Select all that apply)

Piety (correct)

Domesticity (correct)

Submissiveness (correct)

Career ambition

What year was the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs founded?

1896 Signup and view all the answers

What is Civic Housekeeping?

A woman's duty to exercise their civic duty and become involved in municipal affairs. Signup and view all the answers

What does Neurasthenia refer to?

Nervous debility and exhaustion occurring in the absence of objective causes or lesions. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Charlotte Perkins Gilman?

A prominent American feminist and writer known for 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a Rest Cure?

To improve one's physical or mental health through a period of inactivity. Signup and view all the answers

What does Work Cure involve?

Vigorous outdoor activity. Signup and view all the answers

What roles did men typically have in society?

Very physical and sexual Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describe women's roles?

Expected to repress sexual urges Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Middle Class and Elite White Women' refer to?

Used civic housekeeping for reforms Signup and view all the answers

How did Working Class Women define 'true womanhood'?

By working and contributing to family income Signup and view all the answers

What were typical conditions for Married Women in the workforce?

Very low rates of wage labor outside the home Signup and view all the answers

What were the expected roles for Unmarried Women?

To find wage labor by family Signup and view all the answers

What work did African American Women typically engage in?

Sharecropping or domestic work Signup and view all the answers

What caused Neurasthenia in the 19th century?

The rapid pace of modernization and the entrance of women into the workplace. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are symptoms of Neurasthenia? (Select all that apply)

Dyspepsia Signup and view all the answers

What are the two treatments for Neurasthenia?

Work Cure Signup and view all the answers

What is 'The Yellow Wallpaper' about?

Gilman's experience with the Rest Cure Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Historical Context and Influencers

Barbara Welter authored "The Cult of True Womanhood" in 1966, highlighting shifts in societal norms regarding women.
Victorianism reflects middle-class values during Queen Victoria's reign, emphasizing respectability and domestic roles.

Ideals of True Womanhood

True Womanhood promotes piety, purity, domesticity, and submissiveness as ideals for women.
This concept shaped expectations for women's roles in the home, influencing work-family dynamics.

Women's Organizations and Civic Engagement

The National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, founded in 1896, was the first black national association in the U.S., engaging in diverse reform efforts including education and anti-lynching campaigns.
Civic housekeeping defined women's duty to participate in municipal affairs and advocate for social reforms.

Health and Mental Well-being

Neurasthenia, a condition marked by nervous exhaustion, emerged in response to rapid modernization and women entering the workforce.
Symptoms of neurasthenia included stress, melancholia, and other physical ailments, reflecting the societal pressures on women.

Notable Figures

Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a key feminist, penned "The Yellow Wallpaper" in 1899, illustrating the struggles against prescribed rest cures for neurasthenia.

Contrasting Gender Roles

Men's roles were characterized by physical labor and provision for the family, often channeling their sexual energy into sports and work.
In contrast, women's roles were seen as delicate, focusing on homemaking and motherhood, suppressing sexual urges in the process.

Class Distinctions in Women's Work

Middle and elite white women utilized civic housekeeping to pursue reforms and voting rights, navigating the public sphere through the lens of "true womanhood."
Working-class women culturally subscribed to "true womanhood" while redefining it through their roles in the workforce, influenced by marital status.

Employment Patterns among Women

Married women tended to have low rates of wage labor outside the home, often enhancing family economies through domestic management.
Unmarried women sought wage labor, working in factories and stores, typically with the goal of securing a husband.

African American Women in the Workforce

More African American women worked compared to white counterparts, often in sharecropping or domestic roles, especially prior to WWII.
The National Association of Colored Women’s Club played a crucial role in advocacy and support for African American women.

Treatments for Neurasthenia

Two primary treatments were introduced:
- Work Cure involved vigorous outdoor activities and social engagement.
- Rest Cure required confinement and bed rest, which Gilman critiqued in her writings, particularly in "The Yellow Wallpaper."

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Description

Explore the key concepts and influential figures related to The Cult of True Womanhood through these flashcards. Delve into the ideas of Victorianism and the defining traits of true womanhood as articulated by Barbara Welter. Perfect for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of 19th-century gender roles.