DBQ4

An economic evolution that took place in the 1800s greatly affected women's roles in the family, workplace, and socitety.

Women's changing roles and the spreading Industrial Revolution brought some important changes in the life of the nineteenth-century home. Arranged marriages died down and marriages due to love tied families closer together. From Godey's Lady's Book, it said that women have an opinion that they shouldn't just be confined to taking care of their husband and family once they get married (Document C). Women played a lead role in the decision to have more children. This role became known as "domestic feminism" became a form of birth control. It signified the growing power and independence of women. The fertility rate dropped sharply, causing families to become smaller. Smaller families meant more "one on one" child care. Women were in charge of small, affectionate, child-centered families.

Before the Second Great Awakening, women were expected to work in their homes. The invention of the sewing machine helped with the affect of the workplace. It took women out of their homes and put them into the factory for work. The home now was looked upon as a place of rest from labor at the factory. Women began to think highly of themselves and start living on their own so "institutes" were made to make women's attitude towards work the "right way." The Lowell Mill was an example of one such "institute." It worked like a boarding school. The bosses of this mill were basically the women's parents. They would live and work with the women on the grounds. The work day at this school like factory was very scheduled. One girl from the Lowell mill describes her typical day. "You wish to know minutely of our hours of labor. We go in [to the mill] at five o'clock; at seven we return to our work, and stay until half-past seven we return to our work, and stay until half-past twelve. At one, or quarter-past one four months of the year, we return to our work, and stay until seven at night. Then the evening is all our own, which is more than some laboring girls can say, who think nothing is more tedious than a factory life." (Document B)

The biggest and most noticeable change for women, however, was their role in society. Before this reform movement women didn't play a role in public. They were simply known to the rest of the people as the “Republican Motherhood”. Once everything started to change they began important roles outside the house. One example is that they began working and organizing groups to help with the reform movements. For example, Dorothea Dix once announced to the Massachusetts legislature about insane asylums (Document D). In society women were also being noticed for their ideas in fashion. “Bloomers” were popular during this time. Some women even took up some of the men’s habits such as smoking, as well. [Document E] shows a magazine picture of two women wearing bloomers and smoking. It was now being accepted in society that women could become teachers. Another event that proved the change in a woman's role in society was in a comment by Charles G. Finney. (Document A). This proved that women became more out-spoken in society. A petition to the Massachusetts legislature explains how women's suffrage was becoming more recognizable in society. [Document F]

Over this period of time, women experienced a drastic change in their lives. Even though their lives didn't even come close to being equal with a man's life, the Reform movement and the 2nd Great Awakening encouraged women to begin to stand up for themselves. They were beginning to approach life how they desired. Opportunities first began to appear in their families, workplaces, and society.