Societal Expectations

Definition

Societal expectations are the unwritten rules and beliefs that dictate how individuals should behave or what roles they should fulfill within a society. In the case of women's roles during the period of American expansion in the 1800s, societal expectations referred to the traditional views and norms that limited women's opportunities and confined them to domestic duties.

Related terms

Cult of Domesticity: The Cult of Domesticity was an ideology prevalent during the 19th century which idealized women as keepers of the home and emphasized their role in maintaining morality, piety, and purity.

Republican Motherhood: Republican Motherhood was a concept that emerged after the American Revolution which highlighted mothers' responsibility to raise virtuous citizens who would contribute positively to society.

Separate Spheres: Separate Spheres refers to the division between men's public sphere (workplace, politics) and women's private sphere (home, family). It reinforced gender roles where men were seen as breadwinners while women were expected to focus on domestic responsibilities.