I have to write an essay with the prompt "Discuss the changing lifestyles, expectations, and ideals of American women during the 19th century."
I'm not entirely sure what they mean by "ideals". I was thinking it meant what they thought a woman should act like and how they thought a woman should be. But, wouldn't that be the same as the "expectations" they had for women?
If someone could maybe specify what
the difference is between the two, it would be really helpful!
THANK YOU!!!! (:
As I understand your prompt, ideals means the qualities the women wanted for themselves. Expectations are those qualities that men wanted for women.
Remember Abigail Adams wrote to her husband to "Remember the ladies" as he was helping write the Constitution. She wanted women to be included in the governing of the new country, but men didn't think ladies should get involve. The 19th century saw some movement toward women's rights -- but they didn't get to vote until 1920.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_suffrage_in_the_United_States
Thank you very much! That helped a lot!
You're very welcome! :-)
Certainly! In the context of your essay prompt, "lifestyles" refers to the ways in which American women lived during the 19th century, including their daily routines, roles within the family and society, and the activities they pursued. "Expectations" refers to the societal obligations and responsibilities placed upon women during this time period, such as marriage, child-rearing, and domestic duties.
On the other hand, "ideals" refers to the cultural and societal beliefs, values, and aspirations associated with women during the 19th century. It encompasses the desired characteristics, virtues, and qualities that were considered desirable or expected in women at that time. These ideals often reflected prevalent social norms and were influenced by factors such as gender roles, class, and race.
To explore the changing ideals, you could analyze shifts in the perceived virtues and qualities associated with women. For example, during the early 19th century, the "cult of domesticity" placed emphasis on women's roles as nurturing mothers and dedicated homemakers. However, as the century progressed, women started to challenge these traditional ideals and advocated for expanded rights, education, and suffrage. This reflects a shift in ideals, from the notion of womanhood being limited to the private sphere to a more public and active role in society.
In your essay, you can analyze how these changing ideals influenced the expectations placed upon women and how these expectations impacted their everyday lives. By exploring both the expectations and ideals, you will be able to provide a comprehensive discussion of the changing lifestyles, expectations, and ideals of American women during the 19th century.