Final answer:
In the early years of college, women were expected to fulfill domestic duties and be submissive to men. They had to remain silent, do the male students' homework, clean their rooms, and serve them. This reflects the societal norms and gender roles of the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the early years of college, women had to remain silent at public assemblies, do the male students' homework, clean their rooms, and serve them. This expectation for women to fulfill domestic duties and be submissive to men was a reflection of the societal norms and gender roles at the time.
During this period, middle-class women were primarily responsible for caring for children, maintaining the house, and purchasing consumer goods to display their families' status and culture. Their roles were focused on cultivating good manners and creating a well-kept home environment.
In terms of the physical division of space, women were often confined to the private sphere of the house, where they performed domestic tasks like sewing. Public spaces, such as barbershops and gambling halls, were off-limits to women, while separate spaces like beauty parlors and grocery stores were designated for women.