Abigail Adams Gender Roles

1256 Words3 Pages

Throughout the span of history, gender is defined as the difference between masculinity and femininity of both male and female. By examining the context of history, ‘gender role” which consist of men and women shows us how society differentiate certain behaviors as proper or atypical for men and women. In the nineteenth century, gender was a big issue. Whether you are male or a female, just by being one or the other determines how you will live your life. It was the time when the impact of the industrial revolution caused a acute distinction between the two gender roles, mainly consist of the middle and upper classes. Both men and women were assumed to have two completely different personalities. Men believed they were much more suited to …show more content…

As the wife of the United States’ second president John Adams, she played a major role as a woman in her time. She wasn’t treated like any other ordinary women was treated, instead people like John Adams went to her for advice over matters of government politics. In the late 1770s, Abigail became one of the first proponent of women rights and equal education. Adams strongly believes that women can be far more useful in making decisions other than serving their husbands. As a woman herself, she believed in education for all women regardless of class. In fact, she encourages all women to educate themselves and make use of their intellect to help manage the household affairs that men wouldn’t be able to.Figures such as Abigail are examples of women in power, she proves to society that women aren’t as useless as men think they are and that they can actually serve for the greater good of …show more content…

This occurred at approximately around the nineteenth century through the years 1820-1860s. During this time in America, women were forced to followed this code which limits them to only staying at home and would have the task to take on the obligations of raising good children, housekeeping and shaping her family’s home into a sanctuary of health, happiness and virtue. This type of a social system was solely introduced to the wives and daughters of the men who ultimately made up America’s newly formed middle class power structure. To conclude with the history of women in gender role and how it affected them in the 1800s. We could start to understand that around the nineteenth century, women never had lived by equal rights. Only men had the luxury of owning properties or work. In fact women were treated like slaves with the expectation of marrying a man and spends the rest of her life

Open Document