Question

Why was nursing seen as more of a break with prewar tradition for southern women than for their northern counterparts?

Answer 1

Nursing was seen as a break with prewar tradition for southern women due to their direct involvement in nursing wounded soldiers at home and cultural expectations of gender roles, while northern women had more career opportunities. The post-war situation in the South also contributed to the shift.

Step-by-step explanation:

Nursing was seen as more of a break with prewar tradition for southern women compared to their northern counterparts for several reasons.

1. During the Civil War, southern women took on nursing roles in a more direct and personal manner by taking wounded soldiers into their homes to nurse, while northern women volunteered for organizations like the United States Sanitary Commission which focused on improving cleanliness in military camps.
2. There was a cultural difference between the North and South regarding gender roles. Southern women were expected to maintain traditional roles of homemaking and motherhood, so entering the nursing profession was viewed as a departure from those expectations. Northern women, on the other hand, had more freedom in terms of societal expectations and already had more opportunities to pursue careers outside of their homes.
3. The post-war situation in the South also played a role. The loss of men in the war meant that many women had to take on new responsibilities and roles to support themselves and their families, including nursing.