Final answer:
In Twain's era, women were stereotyped as being primarily confined to domestic roles, with few rights and societal expectations shaped by their socio-economic status and race. Despite their central role in the domestic and economic spheres, they faced discrimination and had limited legal rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Twain's time, women were often stereotyped as being confined to a 'woman's place', largely restricted to domestic roles, and lacking in rights to property, income, and political engagement. Even as some women achieved significant power, such as Queen Victoria, society largely considered women's work to be in the home or in traditionally female occupations, with expectations shaped by class, race, and cultural attitudes. For instance, poor women who worked outside the home as domestic workers or in light industry faced discrimination from the upper classes, while middle and upper-class women faced rigid societal expectations about demeanor and intellect. Black women in the workforce were often misrepresented as ignorant or lazy due to racial prejudice.
Despite some opportunities in towns, such as teaching or seamstress work, many women, particularly homesteaders in the West, faced harsh conditions without basic legal rights like voting or property ownership. Even with the challenges, women played an integral role in the domestic sphere, contributing long hours to farm chores and family care. This unequal distribution of responsibility and restricted autonomy led to inequality and a form of social oppression that persisted even as the nation evolved.