HIST-2035-01 Women & Work in American History

Read the Linked file “Nineteenth Century Women’s Roles” and Read the Short Story by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps “The Angel Over Her Right Shoulder”. 

discuss some of the themes of Phelps’ short story “The Angel Over Her Right Shoulder”, such as how Mrs. James’ ‘story’ relates to the Key Concept of “the Cult of Domesticity” that was prevalent in the early 19th century and what does [or should] constitute “fulfilling” work for women [“a woman’s work is never done”; “a woman’s place is in the home”].  Do the dilemmas that Mrs. James faces in her domestic situation in the early 19th century have any parallels to expectations women face regarding their working lives today?