Legal Definitions - doctrine of separate spheres

The doctrine of separate spheres is a historical belief that wives were limited to controlling the home, or the personal and domestic sphere, while husbands had control of the public sphere. This belief was common in family law during the early 19th century.

Under this doctrine, wives were expected to take care of the home and family, while husbands were expected to be the breadwinners. This meant that wives were not allowed to participate in public life, such as voting or holding political office.

For example, a woman who wanted to become a lawyer or doctor would not have been allowed to do so under the doctrine of separate spheres. Instead, she would have been expected to stay at home and take care of her family.

Another example is that women were not allowed to own property in their own name. Instead, all property was owned by the husband, who had complete control over it.

These examples illustrate how the doctrine of separate spheres limited the opportunities available to women and reinforced traditional gender roles. It was not until the women's rights movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries that these beliefs began to be challenged and changed.