Final answer:
The 'cult of domesticity' primarily refers to the idea that women as devoted mothers and wives should create an ideal and moral home, promoting a powerful ideology of gender roles firmly rooted in early 19th-century American culture, especially among the middle class.
Step-by-step explanation:
The "cult of domesticity" refers specifically to idea B: Women who are devoted mothers and wives should make their home a 'heaven on earth'. This concept sought to perfect family life through a home managed by a morally upright, domestically skilled wife and mother. The ideology of the Cult of Domesticity, which developed in the early 1800s, suggested that women and men existed in completely separate spheres. Men dominated the public sphere of work and politics, while women reigned over the private sphere of home and family. True womanhood was defined by selflessness, purity, piety, and proficiency in domestic tasks like needlecraft. This ideology of gender roles was a prominent feature of American society in the 19th century, primarily among the middle class, and was deeply rooted in Protestant beliefs, especially during the Second Great Awakening.
While this ideology profoundly influenced American culture and notions of gender roles, not all women could embody these ideals due to their social status, race, or religion. The Cult of Domesticity maintained a stark contrast between the perceived moral sanctuary of the home and the corrupt Public World, with women at the center of maintaining the moral compass and sanctity of the domestic sphere.