Blog # 3
1. During the revolutionary era women were expected to help and revolutionize themselves as well. They were to take care of fallen soldiers, cook and clean after them, but their roles were limited by their gender. Many women that followed the troops were considered prostitutes and they were always a burden. Even George Washington, a man that is still considered an influential person, saw them as “a clog upon every movement” (81). Women were allowed to be nurses, but their tasks were to clean and make sure the injured men were combed and clean faced. And still, the women that helped in the fields looking after their husbands were considered un-lady like. So, while women were able to help with the war their challenges were still limited to their gender roles.
2. Many women gain rights concerning their husbands’ properties. If a women’s husband died during battle they were given the right to the property. Many women also took care of all financial and business responsibilities while their husbands were away. After the war, even though they were still unable to vote, many women were able to find loop holes in the law and did vote until 1807 when legislature tighten, excluding women all together. New Jersey on the other hand, officially allowed women to vote before. They also gained the right divorce. During the war many women formed groups to support the troops. They began raising money that would help add to the troop’s compensations and supplies. Many even sewed their own shirts and socks and sent them straight to the soldiers. Many African American women gained their independence.
3. Women did many great and challenging things during the revolution that went unnoticed and often unappreciated. Women fought during the war, were nurses, cooks, and even traveled with the men for moral support. All their efforts were still suppressed and considered unhelpful and un-lady like. Nothing was good enough for the men during the revolutionary era. Rarely do we see women being praised for cross dressing so that they can fight for the good of their country. No, those women were considered whores. Occasionally editors favorably mentioned women’s efforts in magazines and newspapers.
4. The benefits of female education was basically to better the family. Females were taught subjects that would be useful to aide their husbands knowledge. Women were also taught so that they in turn could teach their sons in particular, patriotism and citizenship. The proper education of females includes basic mathematics, language, grammar, history, geography and philosophy. The curriculum for women though was altered to
their perceived gender roles. Women were educated to aide their husbands knowledge. Men were allowed other subjects such as advanced mathematics, natural philosophy, Latin, and Greek.
5. Rush and Murray both allow for expanding education for women. They both believe in bettering a women’s education for the sake of her family, but Murray also believes that her education should be for independence and economical purposes as well. They believed women should be refined in many subjects that could better her household, make it more efficient, and aide her husband in financial and business responsibilities of the home.
3 comments:
Elias R#1
I really liked the quote you used in your first answer in which you mentioned that George Washington himself did not appreciate the presence of women. It was really surprising for me to read a quote, that was stated by a man that is considered to be the father of this nation, which looked down upon women. The quote really allowed for your point to be proven. I missed the quote myself while reading the section and was able to go back in the text to understand why women’s challenges were limited. I also have to agree with you when you stated that women were not appreciated during the revolutionary era. From what I read, women had done a lot in order to be respected by the men but were unable to receive the respect that they truly deserved. Women did have their stories in the newspaper after doing something that was considered patriotic but I am sure that many of those who read the articles overlooked what these women had accomplished and did not realize the hardships that many of these women actually endured while risking their lives, not only for themselves, but for the men and children of the country.
Xochitl R # 1
Hi Tyler,
I agree with your comment regarding the limitations of women at work places. Although, they were accepted to work in certain places they were very limited on their performances. They could work at a hospital as nurses but not as doctors due to they did not have the formal education to perform this position. In the other hand, I think the question regarding the women legacies it is a little confused. Women struggle on their way to autonomy and liberty and the legacy of the Revolution it is not clear for women as for many could be scarcity and suffering for others were new opportunities. In addition, women’s roles in public life were still restrained and relegated.
Xochitl R # 1 continue....
I also, agree that Rush and Murray both were looking for a women’s better education. But in contrast with Rush, Murray wanted women’s education for autonomy and liberty, and freedom of subordination thus Rush wanted to women be educated to play a better role in family as wives and mothers, and keep living under men’s oppression. Men were still considering women incapable to perform roles in politics, economy, and social spheres. Yet, education was the key of the continuing women’s movements that led to a new society.
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