CleanlinessCleanliness

BathingBathing

►An upper-class An upper-class woman in 1799 woman in 1799 tells her journal, tells her journal, “I am gathering “I am gathering the courage to try the courage to try the family the family shower,” although shower,” although they have owned they have owned it for over a year.it for over a year.

WashingWashing► In Essex County, MA, In Essex County, MA,

not a single record of not a single record of a washstand has a washstand has been found before been found before 1763.1763.

►By 1850, the basin, By 1850, the basin, pitcher, and pitcher, and washstand are washstand are standard fixtures in a standard fixtures in a middle-class middle-class bedroom.bedroom.

TrashTrash►From throwing From throwing

household household trash out the trash out the window, window, people began people began depositing it in depositing it in hidden pits in hidden pits in the yard.the yard.

CivilizationCivilization►Early nineteenth Early nineteenth

century medical century medical wisdom: “The wisdom: “The more a country is more a country is civilized, the civilized, the more they more they consult this part consult this part of politeness”—of politeness”—cleanliness.cleanliness.

American obsessionAmerican obsession

►““It were better to wash twenty times a It were better to wash twenty times a day, than to allow a dirty spot to day, than to allow a dirty spot to remain on any part of the skin” 1840sremain on any part of the skin” 1840s

►““he who neglects his person and dress he who neglects his person and dress will be found lower in the scale of will be found lower in the scale of morals, other things being equal, than morals, other things being equal, than he who pays due regard to he who pays due regard to cleanliness” 1830scleanliness” 1830s

►Cleanliness “is an emblem, if not a Cleanliness “is an emblem, if not a characteristic, of purity of thought and characteristic, of purity of thought and propriety of conduct” 1844propriety of conduct” 1844

►““One drop” of African blood kept a One drop” of African blood kept a person from being whiteperson from being white

WashingWashing

►Herman Melville, Herman Melville, Moby DickMoby Dick: “As though a : “As though a white man were anything more dignified white man were anything more dignified than a whitewashed negro”than a whitewashed negro”

► Ralph Waldo Emerson: “We may yet find a Ralph Waldo Emerson: “We may yet find a rose-water that will wash the negro white”rose-water that will wash the negro white”

1930s Ivory Soap1930s Ivory Soap

1942 Ivory Soap1942 Ivory Soap

1940s: “B. O.” is invented1940s: “B. O.” is invented

1960s1960s

But slaves…(according to But slaves…(according to owners)owners)

► ““The habits of the The habits of the negro are filthy and negro are filthy and careless”careless”

►Slaves “should not Slaves “should not be permitted in be permitted in these filthy, though these filthy, though very natural, very natural, propensities”propensities”

►They are a They are a “proverbially filthy “proverbially filthy race”race”

►““I would not I would not if I could give if I could give you or any you or any friend of mine friend of mine an idea of an idea of [this slave [this slave house’s] house’s] fetidness”fetidness”

Make-upMake-up► In the nineteenth century:In the nineteenth century:► ““Face-painting” represented deceit: everyone Face-painting” represented deceit: everyone

should be able to read your emotions from should be able to read your emotions from your blush, and your social class from your your blush, and your social class from your pale skin.pale skin.

What was allowed:What was allowed:

►Lotions, creams, and powdersLotions, creams, and powders►Skin whitenersSkin whiteners► But:But:►One wearing face paint (make-One wearing face paint (make-

up) was immoral or ridiculous; up) was immoral or ridiculous; she was pretending to be higher she was pretending to be higher classclass

After the Civil WarAfter the Civil War

►Lower-class women (usually) using Lower-class women (usually) using lead-based face paint, but of lead-based face paint, but of course denying it to doctors, course denying it to doctors, sometimes died of lead poisoningsometimes died of lead poisoning

ComplexionsComplexions►White skin was the style before White skin was the style before

the 1920s, but it was not allowed the 1920s, but it was not allowed to be achieved through cosmetics.to be achieved through cosmetics.

► Journals mocked lower-class women Journals mocked lower-class women wearing white make-up: “It is quite wearing white make-up: “It is quite funny to see that smeared smooth funny to see that smeared smooth white face, and red wrists emerging white face, and red wrists emerging from one button pale gloves”from one button pale gloves”

Still in the 1850s…Still in the 1850s…

►When African-Americans wore When African-Americans wore make-up, it was viewed as an make-up, it was viewed as an attempt to look “white”attempt to look “white”

►A journal states that these A journal states that these “Beautiful black and brown “Beautiful black and brown faces…assume unnatural tints, faces…assume unnatural tints, like the vivid hue of painted like the vivid hue of painted corpses”corpses”

In the twentieth century In the twentieth century (1940s)(1940s)

1960s1960s

http://http://www.californiatan.com/tanbasic/history_www.californiatan.com/tanbasic/history_of_tan.ehtmof_tan.ehtm

2000s2000s

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http://http://www.crazynet.org.uk/women/hiswww.crazynet.org.uk/women/history.htmtory.htm