Were American Women Ultimately gainers or loser in Conflict?

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Were American Women ultimately gainers or losers in the conflict?

American society during the nineteenth century was extremely patriarchal, in particular throughout the Old South. The hierarchies of race, class and most importantly gender were readily apparent. They not only helped shape the identities of the public but also dictated the life choices and aspirations of many. However, with the arrival of the civil war, many of these hierarchies were threatened. Before the war, especially in the South, the role of women was quite clear. They were destined for motherhood. Their world centred around their families. They looked after their children and managed the household. They were often expected to bear children for as long as they were able, making it very hard for them to have any kind of career or social life outside of the home. Domestic life was the expectation. Once the war began, it questioned many Southerners most fundamental assumptions about their identi...