Gender Inequality In The Nineteenth Century

In the nineteenth century European and American women lived in an age personalize by gender inequality. At the beginning of the century, women were not involved in social, political, or governmental rights they could not sue or be sued, could not vote, could not give evidence as a witness in the court, had extremely limited control over personal property after marriage, were not granted legal custody of their children in cases of divorce, and were interdicts from institutions of higher education. Women were expected to remain submissive to their fathers and husbands. Especially their professional choices were limited. Women were upper-class and middle inhabit their life by improving four different things how they are piety, purity, domesticity,
and submissiveness.
The article of “Cult of True Womanhood,” explains that in the early 19th century they got an idea that arose and that marked the beginnings of the ideal woman and it changed an idea of the movement of woman forever.
The attributes of True Womanhood, by which a woman judged herself and was judged by her husband, her neighbors and society could be divided into four cardinal virtues-piety, purity, submissiveness and domesticity. Put them all together and they spelled mother, daughter, sister, [and] wife-woman. Without them, no matter whether there was fame, achievement or wealth, all was ashes. With them she was promised happiness and power. Religion or piety was the core of woman's virtue, the source of her (Welter 152).
This idea has extremely limited a woman of many social principles and describe how a woman looks like it told that how a woman has to wear, their appearance, how to they act, and what kind of jobs they could do, generally how they look like and their behavior. Women followed this creed because it influence women to believe that the true woman was extremely important to the status of her society and her family. Ruth was a strong woman but she was not engaged the way that her society believes. That shows that her society doesn't count her as a true woman. When we compare her with this century, this generation accepts her as a good mother and a good wife.
Our society or community called her as a true woman because she did not give up, her defense whatever comes in her life to be successes and to protect her kids. On the other hand, she was not as a true woman at that century because she was not doing nothing what the society expect as a woman. She listened herself than to listen them and her doing whatever wants; she is not distracted in any situation and she influence herself. All her movement was not as a true woman in the 19th century.
The other thing is their society were judged women and they took away their work rights and freedom from them. A true woman should be bound to the kitchen and taking care of her family as a nurse, should be religious and pure, and they should be compliant to their husband.
At that century, Ruth did not have a faith as her society. Women were reading the bible and they went to church. They were serious in their religious because a man need a woman who has fear of God.
Ruth don’t had any idea about how to pray before she got her first kid. She start pray after she get her first daughter. “Religion or piety was the core of woman's virtue, the source of her strength. Young men looking for a mate were cautioned to search first for piety, for if that were there, all else would follow. Religion belonged to woman by divine right, a gift of God and nature” (Welter 152). Her community want when women grow up they have to be pious.
They must be go church and pray. they believe that if woman go to church and have a faith she can protect her family and she is not doing bad thing because if she have a faith she can afraid her God and it makes her to be purity and to get marred with her virginity. It is a big thing in the 19th century society.
Also, women must have to know how to cook how to take care her family and clean her house also, how to clean and dry cloth. Because her husband do not responsible to do these things all these duty is a woman duties.
Ruth was not learn well anything as the people expect when she was live with her parents. she asked her husband to go school and learn how to keep her house and how to cook but he was not willing and her mother in-law was angry because she was not a kind of woman and she not know how to do anything as a wife as her mother in-law think. It was not a character of a true women.
Her mother in-law was upset when she was telling her how to do cook and how to do home staff.
Women have to know how to take care her family perfectly. Because at that century every mother in-law want that her son has to be marred a girl who knows the rule before she get marred because she want make sure her son is in a good attitude and with a wife who’s a kind of angle.
Ruth mother in-law was not happy because her son marred that women who did not know how to protect and making save her family. In her mother’s in-law eyes Ruth was not an example of a true women.
The other thing their roles in society were to act as status symbol for men and reflect their husbands wealth and success and at home was to create babies and care for them so her husband’s legacy of success would continue. A woman was considered a true woman if she adhered to this strict religion. She was known as the “A light of house” and her primary intention was to inspire her family morally. The other ideal woman needed a male to protect her and provided her with indulgence.
On the other hand the century was Ruth born in a society who expect a woman must be domestic. Woman could not participate out of home as a partner they have to stay home as a house
wife.
Ruth was not domestic person that as her community expected. She did not like to stay home the way her mother in-law like it or the way her society accept. That community were not approve to let go out a woman and finding a job or doing something else.
Her society were remained women must be at home, taking care of their children and husband and running the household. At these century Ruth was not a kind of a true woman. She did not follow the way that the society think. She was going go out and finding a job or trying to doing something without any of her family permission, it was not a right thing some of her action gives her a name that untrue woman
The last thing that Ruth society expect to be submissive from woman. Ruth was not a kind of submissive woman she was trying to do everything on her way.
"I can _never_ part with my children," replied Ruth, in a voice which, though low, was perfectly clear and distinct. "Perfect madness," said her father, rising and pacing the floor; "they will have a good home, enough to eat, drink, and wear, and be taught--" "To disrespect their mother," said Ruth, in the same clear, low tone. "Pshaw," said her father impatiently; "do you mean to let such a trifle as that stand in the way of their bread and butter? I'm poor, Ruth, or at least I _may_ be to-morrow, who knows? So you must not depend on me; I want you to consider that, before you refuse. Perhaps you expect to support them yourself; you can't do it, that's clear, and if you should refuse the doctor's offer, and then die and leave them, he wouldn't take them."(Ferny 63)
Most of the time she could not make agreement with her mother in-law or her father in-law. People were live around her were judging her the way they want but she was argue with them and her decision was not right in her community and they were not accept as a true women.
All these the ideal of a true women impressed at a very young age of girls. Those girls were taught to value their virginity as the “‘pearl of great price’ which was her greatest asset” and the skills to manage a household and rear children.
Women, young and old, adhered to this ideology because they were taught to believe that the True woman was “a pillar of strength and virtue” and that she was key in providing her husband a proper image and raising boys who would later have a direct impact on the success of the nation. The True Woman had an important role, and to fulfill this role, she had to let go of her power, become a delicate body, and become this “Angel in the House.” [34] She should always portray an image of delicacy and weakness, being prone to fainting and illness; she should not engage in strenuous physical activity because it would damage her “much more delicate nervous system.”
In conclusion Ruth was challenge her life and she was strong but as her society she was not improve a quality of a true woman. In that century Ruth broke the rule. According to the novel in 19th century if women miss one of the rule she will not count as a true women and people who live around her were ignore her. she trying to explain that how life was difficult for women and how the society impact them. The society was not give an opportunity for the women and everything was close. Women were not to be a profession not improve their talent. In general how life was difficult for a women specifically for single mother. Ruth is an a character that she was strong women in that century , how she was try to take care her family, and how the people around her gave her hard times. Also how Ruth exist with this society. Ruth Hall thinks herself as a perfect women, and she try the best she can for her husband and their kids. She was defense everything when it comes on negative way for herself and her children that defies the conventional rules of society.
In 19th century Ruth community was challenge her believing and they believe in different way. Women in that time have to follow the rule that their community made it otherwise the society reject her and anyone not support them and it was difficult time to survive