Period 3_Southern Women by Shirell Mollo

Fashion differences with current modern women and the past

2025-09-26 15:04:02 UTC

Many women in the southern times were expected to wear hoop skirts, corsets, pantalettes, and wide hats designed to protect them from the sun and for a nice look, as tanned skin was unfashionable for the upper class because it gave a hint of darker skin. Currently, women are not expected to wear anything in particular, mainly because anyone can wear whatever they want without it being an issue. Women can wear pants and other clothes that are thought to be manly without high expectations.

Family Dynamics

2025-09-26 15:09:39 UTC

The family dynamic of today is very fluid, with family sizes, roles, and incomes ranging wildly and with much more nuance. The old Southern family, however, was very rigid: The husband, then the wife, then the children. The husband worked, the wife kept the house orderly. There was no other structure. The southern population idolized this life style as the "ideal family", and attempted to follow it to the letter. Nowadays, family structure with any family taking any role is acceptable within our society.

Standards southern women dealt with.

2025-09-26 15:12:55 UTC

Southern Women were expected to have the same role everywhere, take care of the house, and act as housekeepers. Unlike women today, they didn't have the opportunity to pursue interests they had, as it wasn't allowed until the late 1900´s.

Southern Belle to Kim Kardashian

2025-09-26 15:16:47 UTC

The stereotype of being a Southern Belle was based on looks and actions. To be a "Southern Belle" was supposed to be fragile while being flirtatious at the same time. They were supposed to keep up with the trends at that time, yet they were still able to be hospitable and graceful. Now, in this society, we can contrast the "Southern Belle" to Kim Kardashian. Now, in this period, we should be able to look flirtatious and be flirtatious as well. We are supposed to be able to stand on our own two feet, and the "Souther Belle" would rely on their husband to take care of her. However, in this society, we are now able to earn our own money, wear what we want, and live with whomever we choose.

family role

2025-09-26 15:23:28 UTC

women back then were expected to hold the family together and care for it, and only that. But nowadays, women are able to care for their families while also doing what they want, such as work.

Independence

281266_2 — 2025-09-26 16:17:46 UTC

White women in the south were expected to do everything the husband was not doing in the house and follow every command the man gives. White women were expected to stay inside their home forever and take care of the children, while the man only goes to work comes back and expects a meal immediately plus a wife that'll do anything he asks. In the society of today both the man and woman work. Both partners expect each other to equally contribute to the two of their lives. The woman now has independence on what role, job, and activities she wants to do. In conclusion women of yesterday were forced to do jobs that did not suit their rights.-Garrett

Women were held to the standard of getting married

2025-09-26 17:44:50 UTC

Southern women in the twentieth century were expected to eventually marry. This was their goal in life, and if they weren't able to achieve this goal, they were not seen as a good representation of the South. They were also expected to take care of their husband and children once they got married. Women today are not held to the standard of marriage and can choose if they want to get married or not, and they wont be looked down upon if they chose not to get married.

women's roles then v.s now

2025-09-27 01:14:14 UTC

In the past, Southern ladies were expected to obey their husbands and to be religious and to take care of their children. The southern lady role was to keep all of the traditions alive and to serve for her family. Whereas today women have more freedom. Women now can become leaders, go to school, and even have careers. Their lives are now about choosing their own path and not just about marriage or motherhood.

Women were required to be up to date on the latest fashion trends

2025-09-27 14:23:05 UTC

Southern Belles were required to follow and wear the new fashion trends throughout their time. They were updated regularly on the trends by reading the newspapers, which showed and described what the new trends were, and also what they looked like. These looks were rather expensive, and they also cost lots and lots of money to buy and create, mainly because the trends just changed frequently. Just like how it was a societal norm for the Southern Belles to change fashion trends quickly, it's also a societal norm for people in the modern day to also follow the fashion trends too. Modern day people find these trends on popular social media apps like TikTok and Instagram, which shows and also describes different products that are popular, and also follow the newest and latest fashion trends. These trends, along with these outfits are very expensive because the trends are constantly changing, just like how the Southern Belles trends constantly changed too.

The role of women in society

2025-09-28 02:21:38 UTC

Back then, southern women and 2 parts of there life, There first part of there life. In thier youth, Southern belle, was supposed to be submissive and listen to her father. Her only goals in life were to be pretty and get married, which was her whole purpose. the southern lady was supposed to be her husbands. She had to lisen to him, be the heart of the family and raise the kids, she would have to maintane the household as well. KNow the women is more free on what she chooses in life. She can go to shcool, work and have the roles of the husband and wife switched. women today have much more freedom

Southern women looks and acts

2025-09-28 05:04:18 UTC

Women were expected to have a very put-together and made-up look. They were supposed to always look nice by doing their hair, wearing nice dresses, and being poliet and gentle. They were supposed to stay at home, take care of the kids, keep the house and family in good order, and avoid doing wrong.

Expectations of Femininity Then vs. Now

2025-09-28 21:35:56 UTC

Back then during the early 1900s, the picture perfect woman or young lady would be expected to be innocent, reserved, and be caring so that they could become mothers in the future and eventually takeover housework. If you were seen as outspoken, expressed opinions freely, or were bold or righteous in any way, you would not follow the standard of how a southern woman should act or behave. Any deviation from these expectations would be considered shameful and would cause someone to be ignored by society, or one would be forced to adhere to those expectations of a "perfect" lady. These expectations were also a part of what limited roles of women in society because it forced the expectation of taking care of children and the house as their main purpose. However in current times, women have the ability to pursue higher status careers and have more influence in society. Women also have the ability to make decisions for themselves, are not expected or required to take care of the household or have children, and are fully independent. To add on, none of the traits listed are required in order to be seen as a woman and less and less people have strict expectations on how a woman should act or behave.

Becoming the perfect Southern Woman

2025-09-29 01:12:31 UTC

Being an obnoxious woman was viewed as one of the most terrible character traits imaginable. A woman who is obnoxious is viewed as someone undeserving of love and friendships. Therefore a woman in the south must become "perfect" in order to be viewed as good enough to live a happy life. A Southern Lady wasn't meant to voice their opinions on matters or have self confidence and instead her job was to be quiet and innocent in order to appeal to the male gaze. A Southern Lady was also supposed to be loud in any way so as not to be noticed by anyone but her husband. Finally in order to become a perfect Southern Belle a person must be unobtainable, which means while they must be incredibly pretty they must also seem fragile and graceful.

Bridget

Comparing and Contrasting the Present and the Past

2025-09-29 02:51:48 UTC

There may be many differences between the women of the past and today, yet there are still many similarities.

In the past, women were held to a tremendous amount of expectations. Such as how one acted, served, appeared, and submitted. Women back then were expected to be completely submissive towards their husbands. They were expected to look a certain way (young) as well. Many of these values have stuck around to this day. More often than not, the husband is still the head of the household, represented in many modern media. Another expectation that has remained to this day is how a woman looks. The beauty standards of the present day are still very high, whether that be what one wears (ex: dress codes) and what they look like. Many aspire to appear young (ex: plastic surgery and many other "tips" on social media).

That was just the similarities between the women of the past and today. The biggest difference between now and then is the freedom of what a woman chooses to do. In the past, they were strictly seen as housekeepers and wives. To serve the household. Nowadays, women are seen doing many different jobs that they wouldn't have been doing decades ago. Such as being doctors, firefighters, engineers, etc...

Standards for southern women

2025-09-29 03:12:20 UTC

Women of the south were expected to follow many social standards and expectations, such as dressing extravagantly, appearing fragile or gentle, or refraining from obnoxious behavior. To not follow these unwritten rules was to be classless and unwanted. The perfect Southern Women was flirtatious but innocent, beautiful but fragile, quiet and classy. Fashion and hair trends consisted of put-up hair, poofy dresses, and jewelry.

Currently, modern standards are significantly less demanding, with body positivity, comfortable clothing, and more casual styles trending. As our nation transitioned away from a patriarchy, the idea of a women became less extreme, with aspects that were once considered "feminine" now being unnecessary.

A Woman's purpose

2025-09-29 04:30:04 UTC

During the era in the south, the standard of the "Southern Lady" had many societal requirements for women, such as being dependent on their husbands, to be a devoted wife and mother and to have marriage be their goal in life. In today's society, these examples come into play by women being allowed the freedom to not be completely dependent on their husbands and children as a caretaker and to have other wants and dreams outside of marriage as their goals in life.

Southern Belles & ladies vs woman now.

2025-09-29 04:36:07 UTC

A southern belle was a girl who was expected to grow up into a lady. She was supposed to be fragile and flirtatious while also sexually innocent. She was beautiful but risky to touch, like porcelain. Every southern belle was expected to be up-to-date on the latest fashions, which often proved tricky and expensive because fashion was constantly changing throughout the nineteenth century. A true lady embodied the ideals of the South, and was thus hospitable and graceful. Woman now are able to dress how they want to, they don't have to be up to date on the recent fashion trends, and now woman are freely able to show/ be how they want to be without some stereotype.