Samantha

An ideology about the role of women in society in the 19th century

Emphasized the important of women acting properly in society

Focused on piety, purity, domesticity, and submissiveness

When the family became more private and less of an economic unit because of the new market-based approach, domesticity became extremely important

Woman became the new Eve who was to follow God and lift the world out of sin with passionless love and compassion

An irreligious women was considered revolting

Women would become hysterical at the thought of becoming a “fallen” or impure woman

Purity was power because women used it to keep men in control of their sexual needs

The purity fetish found its way in to daily language with the legs of a chair referred to as “limbs” and the breast of fowl referred to as “white meat”

Domesticity was the idea that women belonged in the home

It was considered morally uplifting to work in the home

“There is more to be learned about pouring out tea and coffee than most young ladies are willing to believe.“ – Godie’s Lady’s Book

Women were to know their place and understand that men were superior to them

"A woman has a head almost too small for intellect but just big enough for love."

Set up a framework in which women operated in early, early America

Created some still-present opinions on women vs. men

Serves as a reminder of where women used to be socially

When men were away fighting during the Revolutionary War women had to become more assertive

Abigail Adams was a voice in this movement

This was contrary to the cult of domesticity in that it felt the proper women should be educated

Female academies were opened up Education and respect led to more powerful

women

The Republican Motherhood was significant because it was an early feminist movement in America that moved away from previously felt opinions of women, that women are inferior

While it was obviously not an overnight revolution or a huge revolution, the Republican Motherhood was an early example of working for the rights of women