Essay On 19th Century Women

Women have evolved dramatically over time. How women were raised, their independence, and morals have changed since the 19th century. Women have gradually improved in most areas, but some women have taken a few steps back in other areas. According to Dorothy W. Hartman, “Women’s God-given role, it stated, was as wife and mother, keeper of the household, guardian of the moral purity of all who lived therein (Lives of Women).” Dorothy’s statement is still what most women believe in. The only difference there is today is that most women work while being a wife, mother, keeper of the household, and guardian of the moral purity.
Back in the 19th century, most women were raised quite differently from the way they are raised now. Currently, most young …show more content…
Women morals have declined drastically. How women present their self to the public has become a disgrace. Women degrade themselves by dressing inappropriately to attract attention to themselves. This attention from the wrong person leads to dangerous crimes for women such as rape and kidnap. Women began wearing inappropriate clothing to night clubs. Now women are wearing these awful clothing to places such as the grocery stores, churches, and other common places where these inappropriate clothing should not be worn. In the 19th century, women were not allowed to show off their bodies in such ways. If women were caught wearing skimpy clothes they were labeled as the town’s tramp. For instance, in the short story A & P, three young girls were humiliated by the manager for parading around the grocery store in their bikinis. The manager was furious that the girls exposed their body in a pubic store. The manager told the girls, “Girls, I don’t want to argue with you. After this come in here with your shoulders covered. It’s our policy.” Back in those days, it was disrespectful not only towards their selves, but to others how they presented