In 19th century society, men and women were believed to be polar opposites. Women were seen as weak and frail, especially during their menstrual cycle, whereas men were seen as strong and powerful. These traits were so firmly believed that historian Barbara Welter called the time between 1820 and 1860 as "The Cult of True Womanhood". She named 4 main traits that made up a "true" woman: piety, purity, submissive, and domesticity. These traits are still encouraged in today's society.
Although seen as frail, women were considered the better half in a marriage because they were pure, innocent, childlike, and asexual.
Women:
weak
passive
social/ familial
pure
content
not sexual/ sensual
timid
domestic
unable to resist temptation
private societal sphere
illogical
emotional (susceptible to madness/ hysteria)
dependent
Men:
powerful
active
individual
tainted
ambitious
sexual/ sensual
brave
worldly
able to resist temptation
public societal sphere
logical
rational
independent
Women were treated as little better than pretty slaves. They had to obey men, because they had no means of self subsistence. Middle - class women were encouraged only to toy with education, and pursue a cultural endeavor, such as drawing, painting, singing, and playing the piano. In fact, books and magazines specifically for women praised motherhood, domesticity, religion, and charity as the proper work of women.
The women of the 1800's were nicknamed the "Angel of the House" because of their homebound role. Home was considered the center of virtue and the proper life for women. Alfred Lord Tennyson famously said: "Man for the field, woman for the hearth; man for the sword, and for the needle she; man with the head, and woman with the heart; man to command, and woman to obey; all else confusion."