Topics in Women's Literature: Bad Girls

Gender Terms and Concepts Test

Directions:

• Answers to questions 1 and 2 can be short.

• The response to question 3 should be a complete paragraph, about 1 page long.

• For question 3, follow the structure outlined in the paragraph assignment guidelines.

• For question 3, include a quotation from Welter or from "Contextual Documents."

1. List and briefly explain the four cardinal virtues of the nineteenth century ideology of True Womanhood, as explained in Barbara Welter's essay "The Cult of True Womanhood."

2. Briefly explain the nineteenth century ideology of separate spheres as discussed in class.

3. Write one paragraph analyzing the contradictory logic of nineteenth century conduct manuals and magazine articles that instructed women on the nature of true womanhood. In other words, how do these texts reveal that femininity (True Womanhood, in this case) is a social construction that purports to be natural?

You must use for evidence a source cited by Welter or reproduced in the "Contextual Documents" we read in conjunction with The Awakening.

Question 3 Tips:

• Do not analyze ads for beauty products or articles with beauty tips.
• Analyze the language of your source closely (avoid broad generalizations).
• Do not confuse Welter's analysis of her sources with her own viewpoint.