What role did women typically play in southern society?

Women in southern society, particularly during the antebellum period, often played a significant role in the management of plantations. This involvement included supervising enslaved people and overseeing domestic tasks within the household. Although men were typically considered the primary landowners and decision-makers, women were essential in maintaining the daily operations of the plantation and ensuring that all aspects, from food production to managing social functions, ran smoothly.

Their influence extended beyond mere oversight; many women educated themselves and their children in the management practices of the estate, thus solidifying their roles in this patriarchal structure. While they did not hold formal positions of power in public office or engage directly in political activism to the same extent as men, their contributions to the plantation economy and their family's status were vital.

Other roles, such as working primarily in teaching or being excluded from plantation management, do not reflect the reality of many women's experiences. Rather, their involvement in managing plantations was a critical aspect of southern society during that era, demonstrating not only their economic significance but also their complex social standing within a primarily male-dominated system.