Blog # 4

What were the major components of the ideology of “true womanhood?” How was this ideology linked to the class structure of early nineteenth-century America?
The major components of “true womanhood” were to consider women as the spiritual and lovely wife. Also consider as a delicate and passive human being. Women were religious and devout; teaching their children their Christian beliefs. But the most important role was to inspire and support their husbands. Women were considering “true womanhood” if they have more spiritual values than men, lived a pure life; take care of children while men dictate actions and decisions and if they were the domain of the domestic work satisfying their husbands. “The ideology of separate spheres” considered women better suited to parenting. In the nineteenth-century “true womanhood” was view among middle and upper class white women.

What is the significance of the Lowell mill girls in the history of U.S. women and work? What were the implications of the decline of the Lowell system?
The Lowell was a textile factory in the 19th century which employed young women from New England. The factory wanted to increase their productivity and profits. Recruiting female girls was the best interest for investors and managers to keep Lowell out off discrimination, poverty and give girls the opportunity they did not have in their country. The factory had a set of rules that somehow favored women like maintain a good environment, encourage church attendance and maintain the factory clean. Employees had reasonable wage standards compared to other factories but it did not last for long because the economy went down and the prices of wool and cotton stating to decline and with them the salaries as well. It conduced to a strike which for most of the citizens were really surprising seen young women on the streets for the very first time. Eventually the factory had to shut down and young girls had to go back to their farms with their families to wait for a change in the economy. When the economy revived girls went back to their positions. They were required to work faster and hard to produce more cloth but women did not have an increase in their salaries. Women started asking for a legislature to benefit their needs as workers.

What is Sanger’s view of the moral nature of women? What does Sanger think are the cause and consequences of prostitution for women?

He thought that women had to be driven to become prostitute for some extraordinary event because the fact of been prostitute was not easy to women since they only survive four year after they enter in the business. Women were victims of their own destiny. Sanger thought that women poverty, cruelty, slavery, sexual abuse; bad treat from parents or husbands were some of the causes for women becoming prostitutes. Women being prostitutes allowed them to have the necessary financial resources to survive; even though their lives were in risk of serious deceases. Sanger also found out that women were between fifteen to twenty years old, there were native born; immigrants, Irish, married women, half of the women had children and also domestic servants.
3. How do Sanger’s conclusions about prostitution reflect the values of his own day? In Sanger’s days prostitution was everywhere; looked like women had founded a new way to escape their unfortunate situation. He was not sure that he was agree with women way of life but instead of criticized them. He wanted to understand them founded the true reasons why women had chosen an unwanted path in the society. Sanger knew that he could not change the women world; but he could contribute with the society to try to understand the decisions made by prostitutes.