The Revolutionary War affected the role of women by giving them more rights, such as better education, on the premise that they would be teaching future generations of Americans in order to preserve the republic. As Benjamin Rush states, "This cannot be done without the assistance of the female members of the community" (Document B). Mrs. A.J Graves also emphasizes this notion, stating, "Let her employ it, then, in leading those young, inquiring minds, which look up to her for guidance, along the pleasant paths of knowledge" (Document A).
2. What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?
Women were still expected to stay at home and serve as a maternal figure in the household, and the common consensus was that "home is [women's] appropriate sphere of action; and whenever she neglects these duties, or goes out of this sphere of action to mingle in any great public movements of the day, she is deserting the station which God and nature have assigned to her" (Document A). However, as Jonathan F. Steams states, women are responsible for "the destiny of our country" (Document D), which implies that some "respect" was present towards women of the house.
3. What is the significance of the
ideology of Republican Motherhood as
a stage in the process of women’s socialization?
This ideology can be seen as a stepping stone towards the larger feminism movement that would take shape later in American history. A more respected view of women could be seen to emerge from this, as people are depending on women to educate and care for the future of the United States of America. As Mary Morris states, "While you thus keep our country virtuous, you maintain its independence" (Document C).
A portrait of Mary Gibson
Tilghman and her sons by Charles Willson Peale (1789)
1. Describe the setting.
The portrait depicts a mother (Mary Gibson Tilghman) with her two sons sitting on a coach, one on her lap and the other next to her.
2. Who serves at the center of the
portrait and why? How does the woman
look? How is she “republican” rather
than aristocratic?
The center of the portrait appears to be Mary Gibson Tilghman, the mother of the two sons. This is most likely done in order to promote the idea of republican motherhood. The woman appears to be dressed plainly, with little extravagance. She is more "republican" than aristocratic because of this. The plainness and "everyday-ness" of her attire support that she is, in fact, a woman of a middle class and not of a higher, upper class of the aristocracy.
3. What values do her sons exhibit?
Her sons seem to be depicted as rather innocent, and dressed rather modestly. The older son's attentive look shows that he is relatively well raised, while the younger one, with his hand outstretched towards the older son, seems to still exhibit the traits characteristic of younger children.
4. Is there a significance to the position of Mrs. Tilghman's arm?
Mrs. Tilghman's arm, holding the younger child in place, seems to represent the power she has over her children. The younger child, not yet developed in behavior, must be taught how to properly behave, which the mother is to teach to the child, hence the position of the arm. However, the seemingly older child, who is most likely more behaved than the younger child, does not need the same guidance, and therefore Mrs. Tilghman's arm is not on the older child. This most likely meant to show the perceived role of women at the time, in which women were meant to be the head of the household and raise children.
No comments:
Post a Comment