How were the women expected to behave in the eighteenth century?

In the eighteenth century, women were generally expected to embody ideals of domesticity, virtue, and submissiveness. Their primary roles were as wives and mothers, responsible for managing the household and raising children. Social norms emphasized modesty, propriety, and an adherence to male authority, with limited opportunities for education or participation in public life. This idealization often confined women to the private sphere, reinforcing the belief that their primary influence was within the home.