19th Century Women

In late 18th and early 19th century America, it was not uncommon for women to form emotional bonds with other women. These relationships ranged from a caring, sisterly love to a more intimate sensual love. This affectionate love women experienced towards one another remained unwavering, even through separation and marriage. Women of this time considered loved socially acceptable and compatible with marriage. Rosenberg argues that the strong sense of community women formed was the foundation that allowed for these affections to grow between women. By analyzing abortion in America, Mohr explains how maternity and childbirth created strong bonds between women and raises the argument that women saw abortions as a way to have a sense of authority over their bodies. These authors introduce the conversation of how the Revolution created such rigid gender separation that led women to find comfort …show more content…
Pregnancy, child-birth, nursing, and menopause bound women physically and emotionally. Women would often visit each other in their homes to help with household chores and provide comfort in times of illness, grief, or distress. They also took part in social activities together such as drinking tea and shopping.
In Boydston’s essay we discussed how industrialization removed men’s labor from the household; wives were responsible for increasing household provisions without spending more money. Women would scavenge for food, clothes, and fuel to decrease their expenditures. However, they often relied on their networks with other women to do so. Women networked to find the cheapest goods and the best deals, and traded with one another as a way to provide for their families. As networks brought women closer together, they created situations that allowed women to find a sense of comfort in each