Question

The "cult of domesticity" emphasized four qualities: piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity. Describe and comment on one of these qualities as it is revealed in the documents you read.

Answer 1

The prevalent opinion about women in 1800' s is known as cult of domesticity. It was mostly practised in 1820 and was recognised around 1840's. It ended with the Civil was due to change in the beliefs of people of colonies.

This ideology discouraged women education and believed in elevating the moral status of women. It emphasised that women should live comfortable material life and considered that the role of women as a mother is more important in society. The four qualities that it emphasised were purity, piety, domesticity and submissiveness.

Answer 2

We are talking here about the cult of true womanhood or cult of domesticity. The victorian ideology describes women role and behavior as being proper, seen not heard, in the domestic sphere, taking care of the kids as a mother and a wife, very chaste, covered and reserved. This same code of honor placed white women on a pedestal while giving away black women to a life of slavery and sexual exploitation. However, there were 2 sets of women barred form cult of true womenhood: poor women, because they worked outside of home and black women, who were not even considered full women. To conclude, women were meant for the home, away from all the influences of business and public affairs. Women were not fit for hard labor, the political life, or the business world.