Final answer:
The assertion that women were incapable of handling wartime burdens is false, as they often took on various essential roles during such times. The Cult of Domesticity indeed allowed the middle class to differentiate themselves from the working class, highlighting social divides based on gender and class roles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Role of Women during War
The statement 'Many women found themselves incapable of handling the burdens of war when their husbands and fathers went off to fight' is false. Historically, women have risen to the occasion during times of war, taking on new roles and responsibilities that were previously designated to men.
Examples include working in factories, serving as nurses, and even taking part in the resistance efforts. Their ability to adapt and manage both the home front and the workforce demonstrates their resilience and capability.
Moreover, the notion that the 'Cult of Domesticity' and 'separate spheres' ideology was used by the American middle class to distinguish and elevate themselves above the working class is true.
These concepts perpetuated the idea that a woman's place was in the home, nurturing the family, which contrasted sharply with the reality of working-class women who had to engage in labor outside the home due to economic necessity.