Hannah Reynolds Dr.

Esh History of the American Culture February 21st 2013

The Future of America "The women of this country ought be enlightened in regard to the laws under which they live, that they may no longer publish their degradation by declaring themselves satisfied with their present position, nor their ignorance, by asserting that they have all the rights they want." Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) In the Bonds of Womanhood Nancy F. Cott, a Professor of History and American Studies reconstructs the social and economic history of woman in New England from 1780 to 1835. Through the use of unpublished diaries and letters, Cott illustrates how these women not only saw themselves but also the roles in which they were placed. During the course of Cotts interpretation one begins to understand and make sense of womens lives. Cott introduces the idea of womens spheres and how each played a role in the making of this social history. Work, domesticity, education, religion and sisterhood are the five bonds of womanhood. Womanhood as it bound them down and womanhood as it bound women together (Cott pg. 1). In Cotts development of womans spheres both womens history during the nineteenth century as well as the future of feminism strengthens. The establishment of womans spheres and sisterhood of women played into the future of women and their history. Not until they saw themselves thus classed by sex would women join to protest their sexual fate(Cott pg. 206).

Cott develops her argument regarding the spheres bonding them down in the first three chapters. The work of women was seen as a secondary character. New England economy switched from agriculture and household-based production to a commercial and industrial revenue in the 1830s. Merchant capitalism was a primary force in this transformation.(Cott pg. 24) Industrialization took men and unmarried women out of the home but left the married women where they were causing this discourse to develop. In the 19th century women were idealized by men as godly mothers and ideal examples of virtue. The canon of domesticity is the result of the idolization of women. Cott introduced the principle of domesticity providing the contrast between the home and the world. In the home women symbolized and were expected to sustain traditional values and practices of work and family organizations. (Cott pg. 70) Cott depicts women as domestic defenders regarding the treatment of them during this period. She argues that women were not treated as victims but indicates true womanhood by the part they played in creating an ideal vision of being a woman. Domesticity as a vocation meant, furthermore, that womans work-role imitated mans while lacking his means of escape(Cott pg. 74). The education of women, although advancing still had this since of inequality. An American woman required education to form her into an agreeable companion for a sensible man. (Cott pg. 105) The education of women was all about the development of another sphere. Even though some of these women became educated it was all for that of the home. The education equipped them to be better wives as well as mothers and teachers to the future generations. Religion and sisterhood are the spheres in which bound them together. Cott states that women turned to religion to fill the vacuum caused by the canon of domesticity. Through church functions women were brought together causing this female consciousness to arise. Abolition

and temperance were the first social concerns in which female Christians could properly devote themselves. Wives took interest in temperance due to husbands unwise choices regarding alcohol having no legal action against them. Cotts canon of domesticity is a double edge sword that leads to both the 1920s feminism and 1950s housewife. Domesticity is the foundation of progressivism and with it feminism. These women in whom Cott uses were the mothers of women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, feminists in their time. There is this cycle of feminism that arises with the oppression of women. The 1920s feminist movement is a reaction to the oppression of women during the nineteenth century. The new left arises with the beginning of progressivism yet through the death of this movement produces the far right. The women of the 1950s like many women before them accepted the role as housewife and mother before everything else. Women like African Americans Strange Career slide back into certain roles as years progress. Like before 1960s and 1970s feminist movement is a reaction to the roles in which society placed them. Nancy Cotts history of women is just a glimpse to the beginning of the future in which American women have today. Cotts outlining of the five bonds of womanhood all play a role in the making of womens history. Through the canon of domesticity women have a place in the home and the world. They find themselves in certain roles in which society has placed them but also questioning whether it is right. What binds women down or together, whatever it maybe, is still important to the understanding of women and the lives in which they have led.

Ginsberg, Lori D. For Stanton, All Women Were Not Created Equal NPR. NPR, 13 July 2011 Web. 22 Feb. 2013.