From: Rosemary D'Angelo
Date: 3/30/00
Time: 7:01:19 AM
Remote Name: 63.209.189.11
Rosemary D’Angelo Weekly Report What were the roles of women and family in pre Civil War America? Compared to their colonial forebears, did American women have more autonomy or less by 1840? Major role changes occurred in the American white families during the early to mid-nineteenth century. Fathers and husbands no longer considered themselves the most dominant figures. They respected and considered both their wives and children. One thing was that wives were viewed “more like companions of their husbands and less like their servants or children.” At this time, both sexes referred to each other as “darling” and “honey.” Husbands were more sentimental towards their wives, and they demonstrated stronger loving feelings. However, in the middle and upper class, the roles of men were not changed. Husbands still “remained the unchallenged head of the household.” The evangelical movement had a great impact on women’ roles during this time. “Members in evangelical church- based associations inspired and prepared women for new roles as civilizers of men and guardians of domestic culture and morality.” Female reform societies, was where women learned the strict ethical code in which they were to drill into other members of their family. Organized mothers’ groups, was were women learned how to build character and encourage piety in children. Middle-class women were able to participate in female-dominated charitable activities, and maintain long friendships with other women. Where and how men and women worked also changed at this time. Husbands went to work in places such as factories, while wives stayed at home catering to their households and their children. Only men contributed to “the affairs of the world and building up the economy.” Working-class wives while cleaning, cooking, and caring for their children, also took in washing or piecework to contribute to their family income. Unmarried working-class women from urban areas, sometimes either worked as household servants or in places as, sweatshops or factories. Many of these women, though, became victims of prostitution because of their low paying jobs, and their loneliness. Husband and wives did not have as many children at this time, as they once did. A major reason people had so many children before was because children were needed to work on farms. Now, these farms were no longer the way of life. Factories and industries were the present workplace. Children were staying more at home, and better supervised by their parents. They were also attending schools. Parents demonstrated a different kind of obedience towards their children. They did not hit of abuse their children, rather they sent them to their rooms. Disciplining children was viewed as a teaching method. Mothers and fathers also let their children marry whomever they wanted to. Marriage was out of love, and no longer forced on children. My views are that women did not have much more autonomy by 1840 compared to their colonial forebears. Yes, they became part of women organizations, and were treated better by their husbands. However, they did not work outside their homes, and they did not contribute to they economy. They were still slaves of their households. They also had to stay home to care and teach their children. So, how independent were these women? Not as independent as women are today.