Imperialism And The Ideology Of Motherhood Essay

Carol Berkin’s "Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America's Independence" is an excellent book that I immensely enjoyed. When many people think of the Revolutionary War, they might imagine George Washington gallantly leading his men through the winters at Valley Forge or the like. Berkin begins her masterpiece by giving a general overview of the roll that women played in our countries war for independence. Now I, like many others come to think of the iconic role model women like Betsy Ross and the fabled Molly Pitcher, but this star of a book opened my eyes to the everyday

The transformation of English society during the Victorian era brought with it numerous industrial, cultural, as well as social changes. The overwhelming influx of population from rural to urban areas and the various new job opportunities created by factories and London?s sudden shift to industrialism affected not only the public, but also the personal lives of its residents. A new class system had begun to form, beginning with the emergence of a new middle class. Women were especially affected by this, because as they were expected to live off of their husbands and thrive solely on society and their own families, it became increasingly important to marry well and remain in high

Women did not have an easy life during the American Colonial period. Before a woman reached 25 years of age, she was expected to be married with at least one child. Most, if not all, domestic tasks were performed by women, and most domestic goods and food were prepared and created by women. Women performed these tasks without having any legal acknowledgment. Although women had to endure many hardships, their legal and personal lives were becoming less restricted, although the change was occurring at a snail’s pace.

During the middle of the nineteenth century, a so-called "cult of domesticity" arose in the United States and Great Britain predicated upon a number of assumptions regarding the proper role of women in society, and it served to protect male hegemony during a period of historical upheaval. According to Godey's Lady's Book, one of the most successful magazines of the period, "the perfection of womanhood... is the wife and mother, the center of the family, that magnet that draws man to the domestic altar, that makes him a civilized being... the wife is truly the light of the home." A woman's appropriate role was that of a wife and mother, and they were expected to follow certain cardinal virtues that contributed to the perpetuation of this role, which formed the basis of the cult's ideological work. The cult of domesticity was an ideological construct which served to support the dominant authorities of the time, and only by examining the cult of domesticity (and the "angel of the house" which served as its focus) as points of intersection between religious, political, and economic power can one begin to understand how the role of women in the nineteenth century was regulated in response to historical developments that threatened male hegemony, namely, nationalist anxiety following the American Revolution and the ascendance of capitalism as the overarching political and economic structure.

In the Victorian period “…the childless single woman was a figure to be pitied.” (Abrams. 2001). It was considered to be outside of social hierarchy not to be a part of the domestic scene for women, “domesticity and motherhood were portrayed as sufficient emotional fulfilment for women.” (Abrams. 2001). In reality this was not the case and the role of motherhood and domesticity clearly did not sufficiently fulfil a woman’s emotional desires and requirements, situated in a suppressed, dominant patriarchal society ruled by men. In fact patriarchal society subjugated the role of women; they were seen as lesser than, and required to stay on the domestic

The reason why he was is famous was because his 217 defense of Mafeking in the South African War. After his “Aids to Scouting” caught on with a younger audience, boys had started to cherished his lessons on tracking and observing. This had inspired, Baden-Powell to write a nonmilitary field standard for adolescents that would help them learn the importance of good deeds. Baden-Powell took a diverse group of 21 adolescents to Brownsea Island in Doresetshire. Where they had set up a camp for fortnight., He taught them basic skills on camping, observation, deduction, woodcraft, chivalry; Chivalry was most important to Baden-Powell. This was very successful for him and his workers; he had set up a central Boy Scouts office and at the end of 1908, there were 60,000 Boy scouts. On September 1909, was the first national Boy Scout meeting and it was held at the Crystal Palace in London. 10,000 boy scouts showed up and also a group of girl scouts. Later on in 1910, Baden-Powell organized Girl Guides as a separate group, How the American version of the Boy Scouts came about was in an event that happened in London in 1909, boy’s scouts were trained to help and not accept money as an award. The organization soon spread through the country. The effect he had on scouts, where he had them agree to give their life for the kings; being able to represents and honour the people ahead of them, showing their ability to becoming someone of true commitment and not caring for the recognition but for the respect of people

They wanted to spend all their money on their homes because the way there house represented there dress and their personality. If your house was nice it probably meant that you had money or was rich. If you had money or was rich you was treated with kindness or you were treated proprly. If you wasn’t rich you wasn’t treated with kindness or proprly. If u wasn’t treated properly you was treated poorly. The rich people had horses with carriages or a sometimes if u were rich you had a car. If you was poor you either walked or rode in a broken down old carriage. Also if u had a big nice fancy house then u probably had a fancy horse and carriage. Most people back in the victorian era was treated by their personality and there looks. Your personality and looks were the main thing. and by looks i mean clothing. The women wore big poofy dresses tall hats and bellbottoms. The men wore Tuxedos long coats shiny shoes and big

Whether married or single all Victorian women were expected to be frail and puny, a delicate flower unable of making selections outside of selecting the menu and confirming her several kids were educated the right values. During the Victorian era, aristocratic women did not need to work but they would stopover at friend’s houses and family, dancing, making embroidery, reading letters and appearing at evening parties’ Aristocratic women changed their clothing up to six times a day and it was all for different events. The richer the family was more influential the richer in material on their clothing

The Victorian man was expected to be self-made, which identified that he had worked for his money, not inherited it or born into it. Victorian men were extremely hard working and were responsible for making money for the household and providing the food. They believed in delayed gratification; would much rather wait and work for something they need rather than be given the instant satisfaction without work. For Victorian women it was traditional and expected to be submissive to their husbands will. Women were pure and responsible for attending to their children’s wants and needs.

Broadly speaking, the term ‘housework’ is used to describe the management of the home, which ‘involves a range of activities, the purpose of which is to maintain household members’ (Hatt 1997: 39). Hatt discusses how the industrial revolution and the rise of capitalism created a tidal wave of mass social change; causing production to shift from within the household to the factory. The home is now the site of the ‘reproduction’ of labour, a role which has become strongly gendered; shaped by social policies and ideologies that maintain gender roles(Malos, 1980, Cooke, 2009). There have been a lot of significant changes occurring in the area of housework since

During Victorian era a male has always been dominating figure in family. Men were highly expected to provide for the family, their work in the family meant bringing back money. While men commuted to their place of work_ the factory, shop or office. While Females were left at home all day their

As the men had expectations for the ideal Victorian women, the women also had expectations for the ideal Victorian man. Men became victims of social pressures. Victorian men were not just running after respect within their own particular sex, but they also expected to awe the ladies as well. If they were not married, it portrayed that they were not completely manly in light of the fact that they didn 't have a family to support. Supporting a family was a mark of genuine progress within the male sex.

wife as an inspiration was central to the Victorian concept of the home and its

As girls, women are taught neither to challenge or question the “superiority” of men. In this thought alone, one can believe that the ideological stance of the women of influence present in this time, pressing these ideas to the youth, have themselves seen circumstances to believe that this idea would be one to follow. Further, the depth of this idea, prove that women have been hindered by not only social placing but also ideological constraints of the past. A girl raised in an environment such as this would surely be hindered of her advancement or even her own idea of a successful life. Overtly made to feel as less in those instances, this environment essentially strips women of their individuality, placing thoughts of the ways of or how to become a

During the Victorian period, women had a very specific role to play in society. They had very little influence on the public sphere, only men were to deal with business and political issues. Women were restrained to the private sphere, and were supposed to take care of the house, and of their beloved. The phrase ‘the angel in the house’ was used to describe their duty. Obviously, this applies to women of a certain rank, mostly those belonging to the middle-class. Working-class women soon had to leave home and work in order to help feed their family.