The term, scarcity, mentioned by Carol Berkin in Revolutionary Mothers refers to the lack of fundamental resources, and the term inflation means that the prices for goods rapidly increase and the currency power falls. Since it was a home-front war, Women got affected during the war because their husbands left homes in poor circumstances, and the wives had to perform their routine life chores and the responsibilities of their husbands as well (27). They were demanded to deal with the farm and to protect their children and homes (27). The women and their children also dealing with the increase in prices for services, and the lack of essential needs of life such as pins and medicines, and most importantly their family members who usually cultivated the fields (31). The women improvised wherever and whenever they could to deal with scarcity and inflation (31). They used thorns for pins, herbs …show more content…
and flowers for tea and even when there was a shortage of salt, they preserved foods with a blend made with walnut ash (31). They shared their secrets with others by way of newspaper (31). Berkin writes about an event of a coffee merchant in Massachusetts in 1778. He says that the merchant asked an unfair price for the coffee. The local women in the zone grabbed him and threw him in a cart. They demanded the keys, which he gave them when he became aware of that he got stuck and was not able to get away from them (32). These women supposed duties usually assigned to the husbands such as working in the fields. Although some women were already habitual of working in the fields but may be not to this level. They also repaired tools, mended fence, cut and store firewood all this while performing their traditional household duties such as feeding and watching their babies and children, cooking, garden wedding and stitching clothes (31). One pain women were required to undergo was loneliness caused due to the absence of their men. A wife of Washington’s leading artillery expert, Mrs. Lucy Knox wrote about this experience that it was fine during the visits to friends during the day, but she found her nights alone (31). Another threat that these women faced was the reduction of their resources by the armies. The soldiers destroyed properties and depleted food stores. Generals would order the woman’s livestock to be slaughtered for the troops future action. The British armies would take slaves from plantation, not only stealing aid away from the matrons but also dividing families of slaves in this operation (34). There were many examples and many forms of violence against women. At one place, Berkin writes about a woman in New Jersey, who was recovering from childbirth. A British soldier torn her cloak from her shoulder, and thereafter he and his fellow soldiers not only robbed her home but also murdered her by stabbing her with bayonets (35). Another violence instance which includes that the poorly trained and callused soldiers entering home and firing without annoyance (37). This violence was not only from the British, it was also seen from patriot forces as well (38). Rape was not spoken of often, but it was a threat to women of the Revolutionary War due to the presence of the military. Both British and Americans blamed the other of the crime, but shame prevented many sufferer not to come forward about the crime performed against them. Although an unwanted pregnancy or death from sexually transmitted disease could not kept some cases secret (39). A British officer in Staten Island named Lord Rawdon who seen women as “spoils of war,” and considered accusation of rape with amusement (41). Some of the challenges of supporting the cause were rape and other forms of cruelty by the British who viewed women and their property as “spoils of war” (41). Women did arms themselves and fight back with anything they could find. One woman, Experience Bozarth, shared by Berkins, who were splitting the head of an Indian attacker by taking an axe (41). This incident is quite opposite than usually, where someone destroys his/her supplies instead of letting enemies to use it. This is exactly what the wife of a Continental Army General, Catherine Schuyler, did. She burned the fields of wheat instead of having it fall into the hands of the army of British General, John Burgoyne (41). The accomplishment of supporting the cause was the formation of Ladies Association in 1780 by some of the most distinguished matrons of Philadelphia, including the wife of a governor, Esther DeBerdt Reed, and a daughter of Benjamin Franklin, Sarah Franklin Bache as well (44). The fund raised by this group was more than $300,000 dollars in paper money, donated by over 1,600 people. General George Washington believed that the money should be used for shirts for the soldiers (47-48). How were camp followers viewed 1st by the British Army, 2nd the Continental Army and 3rd by society in general? From what segments of society did they come? Why did they become camp followers? What were the dutie The term, scarcity, mentioned by Carol Berkin in Revolutionary Mothers refers to the lack of fundamental resources, and the term inflation means that the prices for goods rapidly increase and the currency power falls. Since it was a home-front war, Women got affected during the war because their husbands left homes in poor circumstances, and the wives had to perform their routine life chores and the responsibilities of their husbands as well (27). They were demanded to deal with the farm and to protect their children and homes (27). The women and their children also dealing with the increase in prices for services, and the lack of essential needs of life such as pins and medicines, and most importantly their family members who usually cultivated the fields (31). The women improvised wherever and whenever they could to deal with scarcity and inflation (31). They used thorns for pins, herbs and flowers for tea and even when there was a shortage of salt, they preserved foods with a blend made with walnut ash (31). They shared their secrets with others by way of newspaper (31). Berkin writes about an event of a coffee merchant in Massachusetts in 1778. He says that the merchant asked an unfair price for the coffee. The local women in the zone grabbed him and threw him in a cart. They demanded the keys, which he gave them when he became aware of that he got stuck and was not able to get away from them (32). These women supposed duties usually assigned to the husbands such as working in the fields. Although some women were already habitual of working in the fields but may be not to this level. They also repaired tools, mended fence, cut and store firewood all this while performing their traditional household duties such as feeding and watching their babies and children, cooking, garden wedding and stitching clothes (31). One pain women were required to undergo was loneliness caused due to the absence of their men. A wife of Washington’s leading artillery expert, Mrs. Lucy Knox wrote about this experience that it was fine during the visits to friends during the day, but she found her nights alone (31). Another threat that these women faced was the reduction of their resources by the armies. The soldiers destroyed properties and depleted food stores. Generals would order the woman’s livestock to be slaughtered for the troops future action. The British armies would take slaves from plantation, not only stealing aid away from the matrons but also dividing families of slaves in this operation (34). There were many examples and many forms of violence against women.
At one place, Berkin writes about a woman in New Jersey, who was recovering from childbirth. A British soldier torn her cloak from her shoulder, and thereafter he and his fellow soldiers not only robbed her home but also murdered her by stabbing her with bayonets (35). Another violence instance which includes that the poorly trained and callused soldiers entering home and firing without annoyance (37). This violence was not only from the British, it was also seen from patriot forces as well (38). Rape was not spoken of often, but it was a threat to women of the Revolutionary War due to the presence of the military. Both British and Americans blamed the other of the crime, but shame prevented many sufferer not to come forward about the crime performed against them. Although an unwanted pregnancy or death from sexually transmitted disease could not kept some cases secret (39). A British officer in Staten Island named Lord Rawdon who seen women as “spoils of war,” and considered accusation of rape with amusement
(41). Some of the challenges of supporting the cause were rape and other forms of cruelty by the British who viewed women and their property as “spoils of war” (41). Women did arms themselves and fight back with anything they could find. One woman, Experience Bozarth, shared by Berkins, who were splitting the head of an Indian attacker by taking an axe (41). This incident is quite opposite than usually, where someone destroys his/her supplies instead of letting enemies to use it. This is exactly what the wife of a Continental Army General, Catherine Schuyler, did. She burned the fields of wheat instead of having it fall into the hands of the army of British General, John Burgoyne (41). The accomplishment of supporting the cause was the formation of Ladies Association in 1780 by some of the most distinguished matrons of Philadelphia, including the wife of a governor, Esther DeBerdt Reed, and a daughter of Benjamin Franklin, Sarah Franklin Bache as well (44). The fund raised by this group was more than $300,000 dollars in paper money, donated by over 1,600 people. General George Washington believed that the money should be used for shirts for the soldiers (47-48).
On March 5th, 1770 in Boston, Massachusetts, a soldier rang a town bell that meant there was a fire or that police backup was needed after being approached by Boston residents who were being hostile towards him. In response to the bell being rung, British commanding officer, Thomas Preston, came to the soldier’s aid with armed British troops. Because the bell also meant “fire,” many residents flooded into the area believing a fire was occurring. A mob broke out, and the hostility of the Boston citizens rose. Objects such as ice and rocks were thrown and many citizens were armed with clubs, sticks, and other objects. At one point, an object hit a soldier, causing his gun to go off. Amidst all of the people screaming “fire,” British troops thought that Preston told them to fire.
In 1996, Captain Derrick Robinson, Sergeant Delmar Simpson, and Sergeant Nathanael Beech were arraigned for their suspected involvement in one of the biggest sex scandals the United States Military had seen. According to CNN, between these three men, charges of rape and adultery were pending in a huge case of sexual misconduct against female soldiers at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland (CNN, 2996). Following this incident, the United States Military took it upon themselves to open a telephone hotline to encourage the reporting of similar harsh crimes. Furthermore, the spike in reporting influenced extensive research to examine the prevalence of rape against women soldiers in the U.S. Military (Titunik, 2000). This paper will explore the dynamics of rape against women soldiers in the military and the research done on its prevalence.
After reading ‘The Murder of Helen Jewett” it gave me insight on how crime in New York City was in the 1830’s and another view on how life for men and women differed. The book starts off talking about Dorcas Doyen famously known as Helen Jewett and how she was highly thought of but then the news comes out of nowhere with several stories about her past some twisted to make her seem as bad as a prostitute who has bounced around a few times could be seen. But her actual story was that she was born in 1814 in Temple, Maine to a regular working family. She lost both of her parents at a young age her mother died when she was at the early ages of her life and he father who was an alcoholic died shortly after her mother. She was put in a home, orphaned
In Carol Berkin Revolutionary Mothers, Berkin goes beyond the history books, and argues that the Revolutionary period was not just a romantic period in our nation history, but a time of change of both men and women of race, social class, and culture. Berkin describes women involvement in boycotts, protest, and their experiences during the war and on the home front. She goes into a whole different level and focuses her views on women of lower social classes, the Native Americans and African Americans – groups whom faced difficult obstacle during the Revolution. She brings to life the importance of Revolutionary Women. Berkin gives us true stories introducing us to ordinary women of all social classes who were involved and affected by the Revolution War.
“At the war’s end, even though a majority of women surveyed reported wanted to keep their jobs, many were forced out by men returning home and by the downturn in demand for war materials… The nation that needed their help in
While it is tempting to see the Shakespearean concept of rape entirely in such terms, such a view is not adequate to explain the complex interactions of dishonor, shame, and guilt found in The Rape of Lucrece. Carolyn Williams, by contrast, focuses on the tensions in early modern thought between a culture of "shame" and one of "guilt," two codes which differ not only in their account of the nature of the crime, but also in the consequences for the victim and the importance of her statements in determining her status. In the "shame culture," rape is "a crime against property," (like Harris’s definition) and "the victim’s refusal of consent…is irrelevant: her physical condition determines her status" (94). In the culture of "guilt," however, the woman is seen as a "responsible human agent." Therefore "her utterance is crucially important. Lack of consent defines the rape…Her ability to tell her story afterwards vindicates her honour" (95).
As previously mentioned, due to racial biases by both the American military and the French, African-Americans were alleged to have raped and sexually assaulted women during the American occupation of French. Both the French and White American soldiers regarded African-American soldiers as savages that had barbarism deep rooted from their African roots (240). What exists in this hate is the contrasting relationship that the White soldiers shared with the French about the African-American soldiers. Whilst, the White soldiers regarded the French as shameful and disgraceful, the French exerting the same exact belief on the African-American soldiers in terms that they were hypersexual and completely uncivilized. Though the White soldiers had viable and proven evidence that the French were committing acts that weren’t socially accepted in American culture; this same evidence did not even exist and was based on mere rumors of African-American soldiers committing these vicious
When all the men were across the ocean fighting a war for world peace, the home front soon found itself in a shortage for workers. Before the war, women mostly depended on men for financial support. But with so many gone to battle, women had to go to work to support themselves. With patriotic spirit, women one by one stepped up to do a man's work with little pay, respect or recognition. Labor shortages provided a variety of jobs for women, who became street car conductors, railroad workers, and shipbuilders. Some women took over the farms, monitoring the crops and harvesting and taking care of livestock. Women, who had young children with nobody to help them, did what they could do to help too. They made such things for the soldiers overseas, such as flannel shirts, socks and scarves.
Whom might one expect to take on the dangerous life as spy? Most people would not suspect the typical housewife or woman to fulfill such a duty. Contrary to popular belief, in the book “In The Line of Fire, Eight Women War Spies” George Sullivan utilizes the non-fictional tales of eight different women who played dominant roles in wars throughout history. These memorable women portrayed themselves as average housewives, but behind closed doors they were intelligent war spies. These women exhibited mass bravery and completed duties that to many would seem unattainable. In writing this, the author’s purpose was to reveal the important roles that women played in history, and open
Ode, Kim. "Sexual Trauma: Women Vets' Secret War." ProQuest, 18 Dec. 2010. Web. 20 Mar. 2012.
Women were not only separated by class, but also by their gender. No woman was equal to a man and didn’t matter how rich or poor they were. They were not equal to men. Women couldn’t vote own business or property and were not allowed to have custody of their children unless they had permission from their husband first. Women’s roles changed instantly because of the war. They had to pick up all the jobs that the men had no choice but to leave behind. They were expected to work and take care of their homes and children as well. Working outside the home was a challenge for these women even though the women probably appreciated being able to provide for their families. “They faced shortages of basic goods, lack of childcare and medical care, little training, and resistance from men who felt they should stay home.” (p 434)
Taking advantage of this, she utilizes a compelling delivery and a strong style in her essay. Her first technique is the tone she employs throughout the essay. Her statements are matter-of-fact and leave no room for questioning. This can be observed even in the title of the essay, “The Longest War.” By portraying it as such, Solnit shows her audience that women have been fighting a battle, and the war that she refers to is not without its casualties and losses. Additionally, Solnit partitions her essay into sections entitled with provoking statements or questions to grab the reader’s attention. “Who Has the Right to Kill You?” (525) and “The Party for the Protection of the Rights of Rapists” (528) are just two of these inciting headings. The next tactic Solnit utilizes in her delivery is in drawing comparisons with other famous examples of oppression and human rights violations. One such example is the Civil Rights Movement and the fight for African Americans to gain equal footing with white Americans. This movement differs from the fight for women’s rights, however, in that women’s rights is “almost never treated as a civil rights or human rights issue” (523). The final method Solnit employs in her delivery is in making concessions to men throughout her essay. While Solnit informs her audience of shocking statistics against men, she acknowledges that this “doesn’t mean all
Lawrence Hill Books, c2009 Bracken, Patrick and Celia Petty (editors). Rethinking the Trauma of War. New York, NY: Save the Children Fund, Free Association Books, Ltd, 1998.
These biases can be obvious, subtle, known, unknown, or merely implied. For instance, of the many works used throughout the course only one was written by a woman – Beyond Combat. In Beyond Combat Stur explains that due to the positive bias of American soldiers towards American women, American women were allowed to be nurses and hold positions in recreational services so as remind the soldiers what they were fighting for. She also examines the mixed perceptions of Vietnamese women: some saw Vietnamese women as seductresses out to lure American soldiers into enemy hands versus, others attempted to create a positive perception that would place Vietnamese Women into a similar role to that of American women – a precious thing to be protected. Stur also examined the perceptions of American soldiers as violent fighters, savage rapists, and protectors and how these perceptions affected how others interacted with the
The society we live in is rape-conducive, rape-friendly, if you will. Despite the anger I feel joining those two words together, I know the sad paradox holds within it a great deal of truth. We are a violent society that has shrouded rape in mystery and shame. To stop this nightmare’s venomous crusades, all people must wage a private war to eradicate their own acceptance of the savage crime. While it is only a minority of men that actually commit rape, it is everyone’s silence that tells them it’s ok.