Public Men and Virtuous Women

More about the book

Focusing on the interplay of gender, politics, and religion in early Ontario, the book explores how gendered symbols shaped public discourse from the 1790s to the 1850s. Cecilia Morgan delves into narratives surrounding the War of 1812, political struggles, and evangelical movements, revealing the complexities of masculinity and femininity in defining public and private spheres. She argues that despite dominant gender norms, the meanings of gender were context-dependent and often conflicted, highlighting the intricate relationships among gender, class, and race in shaping middle-class culture.