Question

He reproached his wife with her inattention, her habitual neglect of the children. If it was not a mother's place to look after children, whose on earth was it? He himself had his hands full with his brokerage business. He could not be in two places at once; making a living for his family on the street, and staying at home to see that no harm befell them. He talked in a monotonous, insistent way.

How does the excerpt reflect its social and historical context?

A. It illustrates the challenges of maintaining brokerage business in the 1800s.
B. It illustrates the prevailing gender expectations within a marriage in the 1800s.
C. It illustrates the hope that woman might work outside the home in the 1800s.
D. It illustrates the need for domestic assistance for women in the 1800s.

Answer 1

The excerpt shows the 1800s gender expectations within a marriage, with women being the primary caretakers of the home and children and men handling business affairs. The correct option is B.

Step-by-step explanation:

The excerpt reflects a historical context where gender roles and expectations were distinct and largely unquestioned, aligning with choice B. It illustrates the prevailing gender expectations within a marriage in the 1800s. During that time, women were typically expected to be the caretakers of the home and children, while men were expected to handle the external affairs, like running a business or working outside the home.

This division of labor was seen as the norm, and societal structures reinforced the idea that women's place was within the domestic sphere. Historical records and literature from the period reveal that the concept of woman as the center of the family was a widely held belief. However, the period also displayed moments where women managed both domestic duties and business affairs, particularly in times of war or when their husbands were absent, showing their capability to transcend these roles.