The peculiarities of women's socialization in the United States (turn of the XIX – XX centuries)

Abstract

Throughout the XIX century in the United States of America firmly established the ideals of the “Victorian Era”, according to which American women were considered the home keepers, had to create comfort and coziness, while men had to provide for their families. However, due to a number of factors, namely social consequences of the development of industrial society, and thus, emergence of the middle class, the prevalent in the society ideas underwent certain transformations. The article not only discusses the origin of the concept of “Victorianism” in Great Britain and its interpretations in the United States, but also explains the reasons that at the turn of the XIX – XX centuries led to the distortion of the long-held beliefs on gender roles in the society. In examination of peculiarities of self-determination of the American women, the author employs historical-genetic method that allows to grasp the reasons, according to which the representatives of “softer gender” traditionally were engaged in private sphere of life, as well as to follow the evolution of liberalization of their views in the context of the United States history of the turn of the XIX – XX centuries. Leaning of the principle of systematicity, the author views feminist movement not only as an attempt of American women to earn their place in public sphere, but also as part of the commenced process of social modernization. The author demonstrates how the American women, influenced by the subjective and objective factors, gradually were earning their place in public sphere, while changing their character, image and lifestyle. The article outlines the key difficulties faced by women at the turn of the XIX –XX centuries in their attempt overcome the traditional beliefs prevalent in the United States. An important role played their gender self-determination, which reflected sociocultural stereotypes established in the American society, as well as the new trends of socialization and professionalization of an individual.