Colin White
Mr. Shaw
W131
12/4/14
Essay 3 Although there have been many laws put in place and women have seemingly become more individualistic with their roles in society, there is still an unspoken idea of what seems to be the role of women. Due to many selfless attempts from female activists and politicians, there are now a lot of opportunities for women to achieve successful lives by getting an education and being treated fairly in the workforce. However, many women still have difficulty overcoming the stereotypes and expectations that once dictated the responsibilities and opportunities for women in this country. Although there are no longer laws inhibiting unequal treatment towards women there is still a sense of inferiority towards them versus men. A picture drawn by Wladyslaw Theodore in 1873 displays a woman who seems to be a mother going through various tasks that Americans have traditionally recognized as “womanly duties.” In her picture she attempted to display some of the most common domestic tasks that women have historically been in charge of taking care of such as cooking, nurturing for her children, sewing, and cleaning. Wladyshaw’s picture displayed the common tasks of women in older generations and some of these responsibilities that are displayed still remain very common for women today. The photograph suggests, that throughout the history of the United States, the advancement of women has been constricted by certain stereotypes, expectations and preconceived ideas pertaining to the role of women. In order to fully understand the picture one must first understand the role of women in the 1800s, since the picture was made in 1873. All throughout the 1800s women lived very domesticated lives and served as housekeepers for their husbands and children. Their main duty was to nurture their children and take care of various domestic tasks back