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 “The Blue Dress” and ask students to discuss the role that societal expectations based on gender plays in each text. Summarize the general expectations for men and women in the 19th century as described in “Our Deportment, or the Manners, Conduct and Dress of Refined Society”. Do those expectations still impact the experiences of people in the 21st century United States? Why, or why not? Is there a connection between the speaker’s feelings in “The Blue Dress” and societal expectations related to gender? Why, or why not?