Women And Women Of The Chesapeake Area During The Nineteenth Century Essay

Due to the demand of labor occurring in America, industries were at a deficit in workers. This led for young women to be hired to fill the gaps of labor of the deficit. This change went against society’s perception of a woman’s role. Before industries allowed women

Women have had a hard time with their lives for as long as we know. They were treated as property, an item, and less than a male would ever be. They have struggled, but some struggled more than others. Some lead an easy life as less than human, but others had a hard time. The hardships may have been due to disease, child birth, and home life. This paper will cover the hardships between the Chesapeake and New England women and their differences.

(Ulrich p. 5) Her research clearly establishes that despite the hierarchal and patriarchal nature of their society, women during this time contributed in essential and complex ways not only to their households and their communities, but the story of women is a central and crucial part of our American history. Ulrich supports her thesis by showing women adeptly performed any job necessary that benefited the family including that of deputy husband; “women played a central part in the communications network” which connected neighborhoods; women controlled sexual behavior; women engaged in and controlled significant trade; women exercised “considerable influence in the churches” and “enlarged the meaning of their own lives” as Christians; and women demonstrated heroic qualities “in the face of hardships of

They had the burdens of traveling while pregnant and childbearing as well as the rituals of attending to the sick and dying and the caring of infants and the caring and irritable children. Women also felt themselves in antagonistic relationship with them but more often than not when they maintain their silence. This is expressed in this journal account written by Miriam Davis, “ I have cooked so much out in the hot sun and smoke, I hardly know who I am, and when I look into the little Looking Glass I ask “ can this be me?” Put a blanket over my head and I would pass well for an Osage squaw.” The Westward Expansion was the leading outlet for women to try to break the stereotype of domestic femininity. Proving yet the strength and courage women have always had.

The group that made up the largest portion of the southern social ladder was the small farmers.

Women working men’s jobs were not as welcomed in society as they were in factories. People held on to the belief that women should be house wives and not have to do much in the way of work. The man should provide for the family, and the women should take care of the family. Many of the women who worked were lower class and had to help provide for their families, or were the only providers for their families. Women who worked men’s jobs were looked down upon and thought to be no better than dirt. Although women working in factories were still women, men did not show them the same respect as they did a woman working as a secretary or teacher.

Since water in the Chesapeake colonies was unhealthy, everyone was forced to rely on alcohol. From the 1690's onward, females initially made alcoholic beverages at home, as their husbands were focused on tobacco production. However, important changes would soon come to affect the availability and quality of alcohol substantially. During these changes, alcohol consumption was increased by male colonists’ advancements and was later decreased by laborers’ drunkenness.

There was a clear division between men and women in the Native American society but each had their own crucial role in the society. Women carried out many important jobs and even “helped develop the elaborate cultural, social, political, and economic patterns that characterized most of the hundreds of Native groups that spanned the continent.” So not only did women influence their own societies but also societies of Native groups across the country. Many Native societies were even matriarchal, where women could rule families and sometimes even tribes. Women participated in elections and most all political roles were elected by the women.

In the next chapters, the struggles of women and children are outlined. The jobs for women of the early 1800’s consisted of sewing, washing, cleaning, cooking, and reproducing the next generation of laborers. In , a rise in domestic service also ensued within black or white, free and enslaved women. These women were hired as servants, nannies, and maids. Children also began working as well. Orphans were often used as domestic servants and teen apprentices. The Female Association Charity School taught destitute girls who were raised on streets to read, write, cipher, sew. They were also trained to be domestic servants and then hired in the future. Women were paid much less than men, because it was thought that they were dependent of their husbands; it was unheard of to have “female breadwinners”. Factory accidents, crime, abandonment, and abuse from husbands left women desperate to support children. The wages that seamstresses had in early 17th century Baltimore was not a living wage. It was not substantial enough to support themselves or their children. So in 1833, women held strike and refused to work only worked if employers paid them wages equal that of to men. The results of the protest was not what was hoped. Women were actually paid less after the strike, but the

The colonial period in American history is a time of exploration and evolution for the people discovering the New World. Dominated by a completely male society, the rules of this time were made by those in power- rich, white men. Women had little place in society, but when first arriving in the colonies, they were viewed as helpful and necessary. When comparing the start of the colonial era to the end, it can be seen that the views and roles of women in this time period were downgraded tremendously. By the time the American Revolution came in 177, the 1607 mentality of women as necessary was gone and replaced by the view of women as property and worthless. This change came

Women are an essential, though often overlooked, aspect of every stage of world history. They contributed the growth of civilizations and the births of nations. The American Revolution was the pinnacle point of a tumultuous and changing world. People’s lives were thrown into turmoil as the war began on their doorsteps. One focal point amidst so much chaos was women. As men went off to battle, women embraced their changing lives in many ways. Most women stayed home, carrying on as best as possible, others followed their husbands on the warpath, and some brave women even joined the fight for independence.

In the earlier year’s women suffered a lot when it came down to their own voice. In the eyes of society, women were considered useless and would generally be taken for granted based on their sexual appeal. For year’s women lacked the right to vote and were paid considerably less than men for the same work. As time progressed women were on the rise against society to make themselves heard. Despite all the consequences, there are a few women notable for their contributions to the society we cherish today. Julia Harding is one woman in particular who opened The Century Club to create an organized center for work strictly for women. Julia was able to surpass the idealism men brought upon them and is just one of many women. There were various roles of Women in Pittsburgh History such as the social setting of The Century Club, the occupation of Molly Yard and the movement created by Daisy Lampkin’s that changed the acceptance of women.

Another reason sugar was a special commodity to the British was that it could be used to keep foods from rotting. It was also used as a substitute for wheat, which was costly, but a regular food for the British people. “In addition, sugar had many other multiplier effects that were useful for British economic growth, such as prolonging the durability of meats, fruits, and vegetables and allowing hot drinks to be substituted for beer, thus reducing the need for cereal.” The use of slaves to farm the sugar was crucial for the British economy, and the increase in the demand of sugar was costly to these people’s lives.

There were fewer women than men throughout the colonial period. Because of the shortage, women had a higher status in North America than in Europe. In the English colonies, more men than women were being transported as slaves from Africa. Women often arrived ill and were enslaved as laborers right away. (v.1 3)

Morgan, Jennifer L. Laboring Women: Reproduction and Gender in New World Slavery. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004.