The ideal nineteenth century woman, as portrayed in essays, sermons, and household advice literature, was a white, middle-class wife and mother. In this advertisement from 1904, the words and image reinforce this ideal and suggest the mother is the heart of this comfortable home and must purchase products to demonstrate her love for her children.
Advertisement, Pear’s Soap. Munsey’s Magazine, Vol. 31, no. 3 (June 1904), Advertising Section.
Image featured in Investigating Family, Food, and Housing Themes in Social Studies by Cynthia Resor
This image is interesting and would be useful in the classroom to teaching about everyday life for women one hundred years ago. It also helps teach about how society viewed women, and how they were expected to be the foundation for all things related to home-life.
This photo could be used in the classroom to explore the side of advertisement, as well as to allow students to see how bias can be portrayed in pictures- not only in what is shown/not shown but also what is said in the advertisement.
With this historical image, I can introduce my students to stereotypes, gender roles, and unfair views towards women advertising, in the past and today.
I could use this image to teach how the definition of a family has evolved. Family life is a very controversial issue now because it isn’t always composed of the mother as the ‘heart of the home’. Now, many families are composed of just a mom, or just a dad, or children are raised by grandparents, etc. This image would be great to use in the early years of elementary school (K-2) because this is when family lives are discussed.