ZINN CHAPTER 6: STUDY QUESTIONS
"The Intimately Oppressed"
1. What is the theme of the reading?
The theme of this reading was all about the oppression of woman in America’s history.
2. How does treatment of women differ between societies based on private
property and those based on communal living? Why?
The treatment of woman differs in private property and communal living because in private property woman were used to others doing housework and labor. And in communal living they did their own work about the house and land and it was usually an entire family living together.
3. How did the earliest female settlers in Virginia fare?
The earliest female settlers in Virginia were there for poor reasons. They mostly came as indentured servants and were treated like slaves. They were also brought to Virginia to help repopulate.
4. How were women treated on the frontier compared to those living in towns or
cities?
Women were treated completely different on the frontier than those who lived in towns and cities. Woman who lived on the frontier were viewed as equals to men because they did hard labor, just like the men. Where as in Cities and towns they were viewed as less equal to the men because their jobs weren’t as difficult as those done by men.
5. How did English law affect the status of women in America?
The English law affected the status of woman in America because the English laws transferred over to America. Woman were treated the same in America as they had been in England. Nothing had changed in marriages, the wife was still property to their husband.
6. How does Zinn use the case of Ann Hutchinson to support his basic argument?
Zinn uses the case of Ann Hutchinson to support his argument to show how woman were frowned upon in public. Ann Hutchinson was known as a speaker in her colony and because of this her colony exiled her.
7. How did the American Revolution affect women?
The American Revolution affected woman’s public life. The Revolution allowed them to meet in public and form groups and even boycott Britain.
8. Explain the position of Abigail Adams vis-à-vis the role of women in America.
Abigail Adams position on the role of woman in America was that they should be respected just like men. She fought for woman’s right to speak their minds. She also teamed up with other famous upper class woman.
9. What social forces led to the onset of the "cult of true womanhood" or the "cult
of domesticity?" Describe the woman’s role in this philosophy.
The social forces that led to the onset of the “cult of true womanhood” and the “cult of domesticity” were so woman could get together and be the symbol of purity since men as a whole were believed to be full of sin.
10. How was dress used as a means of social control?
The way woman dressed was a means of social control because they were forced to wear corsets and petticoats. These clothes were completely different than the men because the body was more defined.
11. What rights were denied women in the "cult of true womanhood?"
Some rights that were denied to the woman in the “cult of true womanhood” were to obey the men at all times. If woman were to engage in sexual relations they wopuld be exiled from the rest of society. Clothes also played a large role in the rights.
12. How did workers’ strikes in the 1830s and 1840s reflect the changing role of
women?
Worker strikes in the 1830’s and 1840’s reflected the changing role of woman by allowing woman to have jobs. Woman getting jobs made them want to be treated equally as well.
13. What is the connection between primary school teaching and women’s
participation in reform movement of the 1830s, 1840s and 1850s?
The connection between primary school teaching and woman’s participation in the reform movement of the 1830’s, 1840’s, and 1850’s because the woman gained knowledge and they powered that knowledge towards the reform movements going on. Because of this knowledge and because they began to take part on the reforms they became socially acceptable.
14. Create a table for the women reformers discussed in the reading. (Note: you
can do yourself a big favor by also including those female reformers Bailey
mentions in order to create a comprehensive study list).
Harriet Martineau
Reformer in 1830’s, wrote the book “Society in America”
Catherine Beecher
Reformer in 1830’s, wrote about factories and woman in them
Eleanor Flexnor
Wrote about how woman were paid
Emma Willard
Spoke about woman’s education
Elizabeth Blackwell
Got her medical degree and opened a center for woman less fortunate
Frances Wright
Writer who wrote about slaves, woman, and education
Dorothea Dix
Spoke out about the Massachusetts legislature
Margaret Fuller
Feminist
Angelina Grimke
Speaker and organized antislavery groups
Sarah Grimke
Wrote articles about woman’s rights
Antoinette Brown and Lucy Stone
Taught colored students and formed speech club for woman
Amelia Bloomer
Made the bloomer
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott
Tried to create a Woman’s rights convention
"The Intimately Oppressed"
1. What is the theme of the reading?
The theme of this reading was all about the oppression of woman in America’s history.
2. How does treatment of women differ between societies based on private
property and those based on communal living? Why?
The treatment of woman differs in private property and communal living because in private property woman were used to others doing housework and labor. And in communal living they did their own work about the house and land and it was usually an entire family living together.
3. How did the earliest female settlers in Virginia fare?
The earliest female settlers in Virginia were there for poor reasons. They mostly came as indentured servants and were treated like slaves. They were also brought to Virginia to help repopulate.
4. How were women treated on the frontier compared to those living in towns or
cities?
Women were treated completely different on the frontier than those who lived in towns and cities. Woman who lived on the frontier were viewed as equals to men because they did hard labor, just like the men. Where as in Cities and towns they were viewed as less equal to the men because their jobs weren’t as difficult as those done by men.
5. How did English law affect the status of women in America?
The English law affected the status of woman in America because the English laws transferred over to America. Woman were treated the same in America as they had been in England. Nothing had changed in marriages, the wife was still property to their husband.
6. How does Zinn use the case of Ann Hutchinson to support his basic argument?
Zinn uses the case of Ann Hutchinson to support his argument to show how woman were frowned upon in public. Ann Hutchinson was known as a speaker in her colony and because of this her colony exiled her.
7. How did the American Revolution affect women?
The American Revolution affected woman’s public life. The Revolution allowed them to meet in public and form groups and even boycott Britain.
8. Explain the position of Abigail Adams vis-à-vis the role of women in America.
Abigail Adams position on the role of woman in America was that they should be respected just like men. She fought for woman’s right to speak their minds. She also teamed up with other famous upper class woman.
9. What social forces led to the onset of the "cult of true womanhood" or the "cult
of domesticity?" Describe the woman’s role in this philosophy.
The social forces that led to the onset of the “cult of true womanhood” and the “cult of domesticity” were so woman could get together and be the symbol of purity since men as a whole were believed to be full of sin.
10. How was dress used as a means of social control?
The way woman dressed was a means of social control because they were forced to wear corsets and petticoats. These clothes were completely different than the men because the body was more defined.
11. What rights were denied women in the "cult of true womanhood?"
Some rights that were denied to the woman in the “cult of true womanhood” were to obey the men at all times. If woman were to engage in sexual relations they wopuld be exiled from the rest of society. Clothes also played a large role in the rights.
12. How did workers’ strikes in the 1830s and 1840s reflect the changing role of
women?
Worker strikes in the 1830’s and 1840’s reflected the changing role of woman by allowing woman to have jobs. Woman getting jobs made them want to be treated equally as well.
13. What is the connection between primary school teaching and women’s
participation in reform movement of the 1830s, 1840s and 1850s?
The connection between primary school teaching and woman’s participation in the reform movement of the 1830’s, 1840’s, and 1850’s because the woman gained knowledge and they powered that knowledge towards the reform movements going on. Because of this knowledge and because they began to take part on the reforms they became socially acceptable.
14. Create a table for the women reformers discussed in the reading. (Note: you
can do yourself a big favor by also including those female reformers Bailey
mentions in order to create a comprehensive study list).
Harriet Martineau
Reformer in 1830’s, wrote the book “Society in America”
Catherine Beecher
Reformer in 1830’s, wrote about factories and woman in them
Eleanor Flexnor
Wrote about how woman were paid
Emma Willard
Spoke about woman’s education
Elizabeth Blackwell
Got her medical degree and opened a center for woman less fortunate
Frances Wright
Writer who wrote about slaves, woman, and education
Dorothea Dix
Spoke out about the Massachusetts legislature
Margaret Fuller
Feminist
Angelina Grimke
Speaker and organized antislavery groups
Sarah Grimke
Wrote articles about woman’s rights
Antoinette Brown and Lucy Stone
Taught colored students and formed speech club for woman
Amelia Bloomer
Made the bloomer
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott
Tried to create a Woman’s rights convention