Question

Read the excerpt from the Los Angeles Sunday Times, June 1899.

This book shows a searching insight into the motives of the "fool woman" order of being, the woman who learns nothing by experience and has not a large enough circle of vision to see beyond her own immediate desires. In many ways, it is unhealthily introspective and morbid in feeling, as the story of the sort of woman must inevitably be.

Which statement best describes this response?

A. It reflects society's discomfort with women's emerging independence in 1899.
B. It reflects society's interest in women's political rights in 1899.
C. It reflects society's concern with women's health care reform in 1899.
D. It reflects society's disapproval of women's intellectual pursuits in 1899.

Answer 1

The excerpt from the 1899 Los Angeles Sunday Times reflects societal discomfort with women's emerging independence during that era, criticizing women who sought to expand beyond traditional roles. This mirrors attitudes that authors like Virginia Woolf and Betty Friedan later addressed in advocating for women's rights and opportunities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The response in the Los Angeles Sunday Times of June 1899 to the unnamed book appears to be critiquing the character and perspective of the 'fool woman.' This response is indicative of a time when women's roles and contributions were narrowly defined and often dismissed. Considering the references provided, the reaction described in the excerpt aligns most closely with Option A: society's discomfort with women's emerging independence in 1899. The term 'fool woman' suggests a negative view of women who failed to learn from experience or lacked foresight. Combined with the critique of 'introspection' and 'morbid' feelings, the response likely reflects societal unease with the idea of women stepping beyond traditional roles and seeking personal autonomy.

Historically, works by authors such as Virginia Woolf and Betty Friedan challenged prevailing attitudes toward women and argued for a broader recognition of women's intellectual and personal capabilities. Woolf wrote about the lack of opportunity provided to women in the realm of literature, while Friedan's The Feminine Mystique highlighted the dissatisfaction many women felt with being confined to the roles of homemakers. Figures such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Sojourner Truth were key in advocating for women's rights and suffrage, challenging the established norms of their society. These efforts laid the groundwork for greater recognition of women's independence and the pursuit of equality in later movements.