¶ … public roles of women in the 18th century vs. The 19th and 20th centuries
The implications of gender difference placed special emphasis on a woman's place and the distinction economically and socially in women's lives.
In the last few decades, the history of women has been recognized and has been defined integrated and accepted at the academic level. Accordingly, the fields of study are now identified as "gender history," feminist history and women's history. Basically, historians have accepted the fact that more than just great men were responsible for the past.
To come to terms with what led to that eventual realization let's begin by examining a time when the treatment of women was dictated by their gender. Let's consider the treatment of women during 18th century Europe. A woman's position within her family, and within society was based specifically on her special reproductive functions. This type of thinking was further perpetuated in a society were patriarchy was the norm and thus encouraged different roles for men and women.
Gender stereotyping, the channeling of boys and girls from an early age into jobs or professions suited to their sex, has played a significant role throughout the ages. During the 17th and 18th centuries, formal education was seen as necessary only for boys; girls received instruction only in what they needed to know to be homemakers. But even after the wisdom of offering a wider variety of instruction became accepted in the 19th century, young ladies for the most part were educated to be teachers, nurses, secretaries, store clerks or telephone operators and homemakers.
Even in the 21st century, over 75% of the women employed in the workforce (and that's 50% of the workforce) are employed in occupations that are still 80% female.
Historically reality has taught us that gender differences accounted keeping women in their proper "place" in the 1700s both politically and economically. Women's lives and roles during that period were defined by their gender and were limited mostly to "home and hearth."
The...
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