In many instances, the social norms Americans believed in just 200 years ago severely contrast with the ones we follow today. The role of women in the 1800’s is one of these instances. During those times, properties of the “ideal woman” differed greatly in comparison to the “modern woman.”
Catherine Lavender, author of “Notes on The Cult of Domesticity and True Womanhood,” clearly states the four ideal traits that would be expected of a woman in the 19th century. Piety is having a reverence and practice in God and religion. A woman was believed to have a natural tendency to practice religion, as it was the perfect thing to occupy her in her environment, the home. Purity, in terms of maintaining one’s virginity, was a crucial part of defining a woman. Virginity was seen as a special power than a woman had, one that she must protect, because if it were to get into the wrong hands, she would be seen as a dreg to society. Submissiveness, pertaining to the relationship of marriage was a guideline followed by many women in the 1800’s. A woman was passive and obedient, much like that of a loyal pet. She needed someone to be her “master,” someone who could she could depend on. Most importantly, domesticity was almost mandatory for every woman to live by. It was the duty for women to maintain the house, that was their domain. This went without question, as it was seen as blatantly obvious that a woman was to work within the house. This leads into the ideology of The Cult of Domesticity. As it would seem, The Cult of Domesticity states that in the average middle class home, the woman would take care of the house and children, and providing companionship to their husbands. The house is also considered to be the “Private Sphere,” a place free of any temptation, violence or trouble, the perfect place for a woman.
A convention held in Seneca Falls, New York, was held in order to reevaluate this norms and create a more equal environment for women in society. Men and women from all parts of the country would attend this convention to draft reforms to achieve this task. A result of this was the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments. Much like the Declaration of Independence, the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments listed previous problems with women’s rights, and proposed solutions to them. The Declaration of Rights and Sentiments gave women the opportunity to have more freedom to live by their own accord. Women's suffrage was also an important for woman to attain, as they felt it would they would not have true equality unless they were granted the right to vote. Although Seneca Falls was a momentous breakthrough for women’s rights. The minority groups were still misrepresented, if represented at all. In a class simulation similar to the proceedings at Seneca Falls, these minority groups were also represented, and were able to demands their own reforms. In the group I was assigned to represent, women of New Mexico were even more so poorly treated than their white counterparts. These women suffered incredibly poor wages, and were not necessarily considered American citizens. The class formed a new Declaration of Rights and Sentiments, this time including the minority groups not represented in the actual convention. While some of the class’ resolutions remained the same as the actual ones, some differed. For example, in the class’ set of resolutions, the push to abolish slavery, and consider all minority groups as American citizens were some of the most popular on the list. Those that were remained the same on both lists were along the lines of male and female equality, and giving women the freedom to operate and think for themselves.
In my personal opinion, I believe that the most important resolution formed at Seneca Falls, as well as being discussed in class, is the idea that all previous expectations for women were not to be credited as valid anymore. I find that this is the most important step for women's rights, as it takes the ideals that created problems for women, and destroys them. This essentially gives society a clean slate to work with in terms of forming new social norms, especially taking into account that women will now be allowed to have their input. I also believe that society has improved vastly on creating an equal environment for both men and women. I would like to think it would be a fair statement in saying that men have as much respect for women as women do for men in today’s society, while some 200 years ago, this certainly was not the case.
