The “Cult of Domesticity”: Its Effects on Families Across Varying Economic Classes

Introduction 

The cult of domesticity came to rise in the period between 1820 and 1860 where there was a rise in the ideology of feminine behavior. 1 The society, particularly in England, set up an ideal character that was expected of an ideal woman. The cult of domesticity defined the role of women as being just a wife and a mother. The ideal women were expected to possess the following four qualities; purity, submission, purity, and piety . This value system was only amongst the upper and the middle classes. 2 The United States and Great Britain, the women were seen to be the center of the family. This paper will focus on the cult of domesticity and the effects it has on the different economic classes. 

Historical background 

In the peak of the mid-19 th century, the ideology of domesticity was evident in two ideas; the doctrine of separate spheres, and the image of the middle-class domestic woman . The doctrine of separate spheres explained how the context of the private and the public life correlated in a set of double groups. It differentiated femininity, emotions, and leisure from masculinity, detachment, and work. The figure of the middle-class domestic woman defines the household management abilities that represented an idealized home. The significance of the separate spheres was the influence it had on married women’s participation in the labor market. 3 It affected the power and status of the women in the society. Many women that had full dependence on their husbands led a miserable life after the death of their husbands. The value system fronted for the true women only to get involved in activities that were unpaid. 

Significance 

It was during the reign of Queen Victoria that the cult of domesticity took center stage where the society regarded women to be inferior to men. Women were viewed as just mothers and wives who were regarded to fulfill the needs of women emotionally . This constructs held by the society led to women being kept away from public spheres in many approaches. However, during the 19 th century, there was the development of charitable groups that challenged to extend the female role of service. 4 When Great Britain transformed into an industrial nation, there was a change in the ways the male and the female roles were perceived. 

Complexity and contingency 

The cult of domesticity is defined by the values that the society holds about the female gender. Of importance is the role that women had in the society. The women were depicted to be in the private sphere of life. Their activities were taking care of the family and taking care of children. 5 The events that took place during this era included industrial revolution which necessitated the women to be empowered socially and economically. 

The ideals of womanhood 

According to the primary sources, an ideal woman was thought of as a being piety, industrious, patient and possess frugality. Mrs. Goodby who was considered to be an ideal woman possessed the good qualities of a good and virtuous woman. 6 Her life was focused on serving her home and the family. An ideal woman should be respectable and busy; have no time for leisure. One should be devoted to her husband so as to be considered an ideal woman. The role that an ideal woman is tasked with is that of a household manager. She should be able to accept her place in the society. 

Four Virtues and Their Significance to Womanhood 

The society in the 19 th century described an ideal woman to possess the qualities of piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity. Piety is the quality of being a religious person. An ideal woman was expected to be religious because unlike other intellectual pursuits, religion did not make women to be drawn away from her proper sphere, home. 7 The significance of this quality to womanhood is it helped control women’s longings. Purity was also another virtue valued by the society in that era. Women were expected to be virgins until the night of their marriage. After getting married, the women were expected to stay committed only to their husbands. The significance of this virtue to womanhood was that it helped to maintain a family. The third virtue is of submission. The women were expected to be obedient and submissive to their husbands. The men were regarded to be superior hence the women were to obey them. Domesticity is also another virtue that was expected of women. The home was regarded as the ideal place for the women where they were to provide refuge for the husbands and their children. 8 The feminine activities included taking care of the children, making beds and tending flowers. The significance of this virtue is that it allowed men 

Upper-Class Families 

The upper-class families were defined to be the wealthiest in the society that yielded great political power. The class was distinguished by the immense wealth which is passed on through generations. The role of the women was in the home to take care of the family, housekeeping, and raising children. This is evident in the picture used by Queen Victoria which showed as a family woman that takes care of the children. 9 The male roles, on the other hand, were participating in politics, offering protection and taking part in the public sphere of the business. The benefit of being in the upper-class family was having hold of power hence controlling most of the activities in the society. The roles fit the ideal of womanhood as the women were tasked with taking care of the family. 

Middle-Class Families 

This is the class of people in the society that are in the middle of the social hierarchy. Amongst the individuals in this category are managers, professionals and senior civil servants. The female roles were taking care of the family and attending to household activities. The male, on the other hand, played the role of providing finances for the family and security. The difference between the middle class and the upper class was the lifestyle that they exhibited. The upper class has cozy domestic interiors that had plush fabrics. 10 The curtains were also heavy whereas the middle class contained concrete expressions of domesticity. They had comfortable furnishings and home entertainment. The women fit the ideals of women because they possessed the virtues of ideal women such as submission and piety. 

Lower Class Families 

The class of people that were considered to be of the lower class had lowest social ranks, low income, and working class. The main difference between the lower class and the middle and upper class was the income that the family had. The males in this group were not wealthy, and therefore the females were forced to vend for the family. This did not conform to the ideals of womanhood. 11 The women were tasked with the task of attending to household activities, but the level of income for the lower class people necessitated women to take part in physical activities to provide for the family. 

Queen Victoria’s Image 

The image of Queen Victoria was used to demonstrate the ideals of a happy family life in the society. The image depicted as a domestic woman who stayed at home with a group of children. The image testified the power of domesticity by the queen. 12 This created an unrealistic expectation of the family. The queen was seen to be not only a mother but also a woman that does domestic chores such as spinning. 

Summary of Sources 

Isabella Beeton’s Book of household management contributed to the cult of domesticity through explaining the duties of the mistress. The author stresses on the cooking and housekeeping duties of women. The book further gives the recipes for cooking a variety of foods. The book advocates for the ideals of womanhood including cleanliness, frugality and having a good temper . 13 Godey’s Lady Book was significant in the cult of domesticity as it advocated for the education of women. She particularly gave the list of the schools that accepted the enrollment of women in their school. 14 She held the belief that both men and women were entitled to similar levels of educations. 

Conclusion 

In the 19 th century, the domestic ideology rested in two concepts; the doctrine of separate spheres, and figure of the middle-class domestic women . The cult of domesticity defined the role of women within the family and the dynamics of their work. This value system was however only applicable amongst the upper and the middle-class individuals. According to this idea, an ideal woman possessed four basic virtues; piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity. 15 The different economic classes depicted different roles for the male and the female. For the upper and middle class, the married women were generally expected to be in charge of the household activities and taking care of their husbands and the children. 

Bibliography 

"BBC - History - Ideals Of Womanhood In Victorian Britain ." 2017.  Bbc.Co.Uk . 

Beeton, Sarah A. Chrisman.  Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management: The 1861 Classic with Advice on Cooking, Cleaning, Childrearing, Entertaining, and More . 2015. 

Kathleen Connellan,  Cult of Domesticity . The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality Studies, (US: Wiley-Blackwell, 2015). Pp. 1-3 

Monica Flegel,  Pets and Domesticity in Victorian Literature and Culture: Animality, Queer Relations, and the Victorian Family . Vol. 14. (Routledge, 2015). 12 

Susan Johnston.  Fashion Paper Dolls from 'Godey's Lady Book ,' 1840-1854 . (New York: Dover Publications, 1977). 7. 

1 . "BBC - History - ." 2. 

2 . Kathleen Connellan,  Cult of Domesticity . The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality Studies, (US: Wiley-Blackwell, 2015). Pp. 1-3 

3 . Ibid. 

4 . Monica Flegel,  Pets and Domesticity in Victorian Literature and Culture: Animality, Queer Relations, and the Victorian Family . Vol. 14. (Routledge, 2015). 12 

5 . Ibid. 

6 . Connellan,  Cult of Domesticity . 

7 . Ibid., 3. 

8 . Ibid. 

9 . Connellan,  Cult of Domesticity . 

10 . Ibid., 3. 

11 . Connellan,  Cult of Domesticity . 

12 . Flegel, Animality , Queer Relations, and the Victorian Family . 

13 . Sarah Beeton,  Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management: The 1861 Classic with Advice on Cooking, Cleaning, Childrearing, Entertaining, and More . (2015). 

14 . Susan Johnston.  Fashion Paper Dolls from 'Godey's Lady Book ,' 1840-1854 . (New York: Dover Publications, 1977). 7. 

15 . Connellan,  Cult of Domesticity .