Law
From the Lizzie Borden case as described in the Ross-Nickerson article, it is evident that at the time, women were expected to demonstrate protective and dutiful tenderness. Being the primary caregivers, the society expected women to take good care of their families. They were expected love and dutifully care for their loved ones. This theme is illustrated in the article as Nickerson tries to explain why Borden’s actions were considered to be deeply odd. Being a woman, the society did not expect her to be violent, and as such, people had a difficult time believing that she could be capable of committing the murders she was accused of (Nickerson, 1999, p. 263).
Women were also perceived to be physically weak. In other words, they are the weaker sex. In this regard, women did not have the physical strength that men naturally have. This perception of women is depicted in the article when Nickerson highlights the brutality of the murders. According to her, the society at the time could not believe that Borden was capable of committing the murders considering how brutal the murders were (Nickerson, 1999, p. 267). In this light, a woman was incapable of committing such brutal acts since she was physically weak; as such, those acts required physical strength.
Lastly, women at the time were expected to have a ladylike style. This means that the society expected them to depict characteristics that were suitable for or typical of a well-bred, decorous woman. Nickerson shows this them when she highlights the statements made by Borden’s attorney as he tried to attest to her good character. According to the attorney, Borden led a model life for a single woman of her day…she led ladylike lifestyle as a dependent of her father (Nickerson, 1999, p. 270).
Reference
Nickerson, C. R. (1999). ‘The Deftness of Her Sex’: Innocence, Guilt and Gender in the Trial
of Lizzie Borden. Lethal Imagination: Violence and Brutality in American History, 261-81.
