Our Deportment, or the Manners, Conduct, and Dress of Refined Society
John H. Young
In "Our Deportment, or the Manners, Conduct, and Dress of Refined Society," John H. Young explains the rules of etiquette during the early 19th century. In this excerpt, Young explains the proper etiquette for wives and husbands.
Pair “Our Deportment, or the Manners, Conduct, and Dress of Refined Society” with “What is the History of Summer Camps in the United States?” and ask students to draw connections between the gender roles described in Young’s text and the motivations for summer camps for affluent boys and girls in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. What are the similarities and differences? In what ways have gender roles been heavily influenced by socio-economic status throughout history? Please provide examples of the ways in which gender-role norms have and have not changed, using your own experiences as well as popular culture and current event examples.