Revolutionary Conceptions: Women, Fertility, and Family Limitation in America, 1760-1820 (Published by the Omohundro Institute of Early American History ... and the University of North Carolina Press)

In the Age of Revolution, how did American women conceive their lives and marital obligations? By examining the attitudes and behaviors surrounding the contentious issues of family, contraception, abortion, sexuality, beauty, and identity, Susan E. Klepp demonstrates that many women - rural and urban, free and enslaved - began to radically redefine motherhood. They asserted, or attempted to assert, control over their bodies, their marriages, and their daughters' opportunities. Late-eighteenth-century American women were among the first in the world to disavow the continual childbearing and large families that had long been considered ideal. Liberty, equality, and heartfelt religion led to new conceptions of virtuous, rational womanhood and responsible parenthood. These changes can be seen in falling birthrates, in advice to friends and kin, in portraits, and in a gradual, even reluctant, shift in men's opinions. Revolutionary-era women redefined femininity, fertility, family, and their futures by limiting births. Women might not have won the vote in the new Republic, they might not have gained formal rights in other spheres, but, Klepp argues, there was a women's revolution nonetheless By Examining The Attitudes And Behaviors Surrounding The Contentious Issues Of Family, Contraception, Abortion, Sexuality, Beauty, And Identity, Klepp Demonstrates That Many American Women--rural And Urban, Free And Enslaved--began To Radically Redefine Motherhood During The Age Of Revolution As They Asserted, Or Attempted To Assert, Control Over Their Bodies, Their Marriages, And Their Daughters' Opportunities. Introduction : First To Fall : Fertility, American Women, And Revolution -- Starting, Spacing, And Stopping : The Statistics Of Birth And Family Size -- Old Ways And New -- Women's Words -- Beauty And The Bestial : Images Of Women -- Potions, Pills, And Jumping Ropes : The Technology Of Birth Control -- Increase And Multiply : Embarrassed Men And Public Order -- Reluctant Revolutionaries -- Conclusion : Fertility And The Feminine In Early America. Susan E. Klepp. Published For The Omohundro Institute Of Early American History And Culture, Williamsburg, Virginia. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In the Age of Revolution, how did American women conceive their lives and marital obligations? By examining the attitudes and behaviours surrounding the contentious issues of family, contraception, abortion, sexuality, beauty, and identity, this book demonstrates that many women - rural and urban, free and enslaved - began to radically redefine motherhood. They asserted, or attempted to assert, control over their bodies, their marriages, and their daughters' opportunities