Q 1:
“True Womanhood” basically meant that women were supposed to do what was right, in the sense that they were supposed to stay home and do their duties. The system of true womanhood “took hold in the early years of the nineteenth centuries…treated men and women as complete and absolute opposites” (page 137). Women were to do only as they were told, with basically no freedom to work on their own, while men had a job outside of the home. They were exempt to do anything outside of the home, such as work in the fields or to make any decisions on their own. There was a drastic difference between men and women in these days.
Then in early nineteenth century women’s roles changed a little bit. There was a difference through classes, for example a woman of upper class had a more luxurious life versus women from lower class. Women from upper class didn’t do as much house work, and had more time to have fun. There were limits placed upon women who didn’t have much money. The aspect of money and who had more of it played a big role in people’s lifestyles.
Q 2:
During the 1820’s changes began to occur when “one of the most important of American industries” began (pg.147). These industries mainly consisted of women working in a factory and trying to make a bit of a living. This was actually a very good change for women because now they could finally get out of their house and make some money. I think it had more to do with their own independence and a new possibility that opened up for them than actually making money. This was a big deal for these women because they could move away from their homes and have a chance to work. This was a way to make some money for their families back home, making $1 to $2 dollars a week (page 149).
One very big problem that arose during the decline of the Lowell system was that these women were being treated completely unfair. They actually made less money than the men, who pretty much did the same job. This brought out some problems because it was obvious that gender was playing a big role in this problem. Also it was a problem that these young women had to move away from their homes and live far from their homes. There were also wage cuts for the women, which eventually lead them to strike against the factory.
Testbook:
Q 1: Dr. William Sanger had a compassion for women and wanted to prove that women did not choose the lifestyle of being a prostitute but certain things made them into this. He interviewed two thousand prostitutes to show the experiences that they went through (page 169). He said that “Prostitution disturbed middle-class observers so much that they saw it everywhere and extraordinarily inflated numbers, as high as one-tenth of all New York women, were common” (page 169). He explains that this was a way for poor women to survive under the hard conditions that they were in. But in fact women are not meant for doing things like this, but they will do anything to save their own family.
Q 2:
Sanger says that the cause of high prostitution in the city was the “financial pressure on poor urban women” and that their situations were so difficult that they had to turn to this (169). He also thinks that women were blamed too much for prostitution and people didn’t try to understand why they did it. The reason for this problem was that they had no “economic opportunity” to make any money, and were in fact “victims” in all of this (169). I believe that this is very true because these poor women didn’t have much of a choice, and if their children are starving to death, then they did what they had to for survival. It wasn’t exactly what they preferred to do, but they were pretty much forced into it.
Q 3:
Sanger basically suggests that it is society’s fault that so many women became prostitutes. He is completely understanding of them and suggests that people open their eyes and try to fix this problem. I highly doubt that it was a coincidence that so many women were prostitutes, but it was actually an act that they did not choose. People need to be more understanding and they needed to change the way that they treated women so that they could have more opportunities like the men.
3 comments:
- For number one i like how eyou explained the differences not only between men and women but also described the difference of upper class verses lower class lifestyles.
- I agree with what you say in number two how the women felt they were both winning and losing a battle with being able to work by being treated unfairly at the work place.
- I dont believe Sanger thought it was societys "fault" as it was more of a great influence on why women went into prostitution, but other then that i agree with number three as well.
- I agree on how Dr Snager felt compassion for the poor class in how they felt they had to do anything to make money to survive, even by selling themselves.
- For questions two and three and think they are basically saying the same thing in how Sanger felt the biggest factor that led to prostitution was their finacial sitution, i agree on how it was said that women did not even have the opportunity to work much so it made it even harder on them to make the money needed to survive.
PR#1
- Hello Dear, I just wanted to let you know that i agree with what you said on this paragraph;however, we ask ourselves why women had to stay home cook ,take care of the children and etc..and they had to do what they told to well the main idea in here is going to be beacuse of the " Gender role". Basically,US became a free nation and they started at the women's and men's in different perspectives.like having an opposite gender . Anyways my point is that " Womanhood" is a interesting word to use, beacuse if we really think about it they were the hard working group among others, who had difficulties and were under pressure.Overall, you explained it well but i just wnated to add that idea too to you paragraph!
- for you question # 2 at first you really didn't mention who were the Lowell mill girls .They were actually the girls who were living with their families' farm and doing work in the field ;for instance,chores and different farm work..and after that they had the chance to move far away so they could bring money to their families and also have some for themseleves . You actually mention that one , i totally agree with you on that..and at the end of your sentence when you mentioned how much they were making that was a great fact too.Also, i forgot to mention something in 1814there was a group who opened a first American Factory in the house and it was the same as the textile work. mill girls actully had the chance to work there too and their job was to manufacture wool, cotton cloths and linen.
~*TextBook*~
- On Q1 i agree with you beacuse your absolutely right women did not choose the lifestyle of being a prostitute but certain things made them into this. Since ,their life style was that they weren't getting payed enough , their families were going through starvation they had no other choice.As Dr. William Sanger mentioned that one-tenth of all New York women were following that footstep.This was actaully their way to survive from thier harmful condition of life that they had. But if you really think about it in their heart as i mentioned they didn't want to do it . I think that is very devestating . I think now women have such a mellow life , maybe some would do prostitution but rarely ;for instance, 2 out of ten would the but i don't think that one-tenth would do it.
anyways honey overall you did a good job i know what your trying to say in you paragraphs ...i thought last chapter was interesting but no this chapter actually was undrestanding even though it was kind of long but it was worth reading.
Okay take care see you inn class!
PR#2:
Hey Shawna, I wanted to say that I agree with what you wrote for question number two. I think it was very important to address that women felt like they were winning and losing at the same time when it came to work. However, I do disagree when you write that Sanger didn't think societys was at fault for prostitutes. When Sanger writes his essay, he lets the readers know that he is compassionate towards the prostitutes and that it is beause of many financial difficulties that they had to lean towards prostitution as an answer. Society makes class and creates status, so I do think that Sanger meant it was societies fault that prostitutes were forced into that work. But you do write that you agree with his compassion so that I do agree with =). I also do agree with you that women were not given much of an opportunity to work and make a living for themselves. You wrote some interesting things in her answers and some I agreed with and some I didn't.
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