Southern womanhood

Southern womanhood refers to the social and cultural ideals surrounding women in the Southern United States, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It often emphasized traits such as femininity, grace, and nurturing, traditionally aligning women with domestic roles as wives and mothers. This concept was influenced by antebellum values, romanticized in literature and culture, and embodied in the "Southern Belle" archetype. Southern womanhood also intersected with issues such as race, class, and regional identity, shaping women's experiences and societal expectations in the South, both historically and in contemporary discussions about gender and culture.