mckaywest11e

Quiz for Primary Source 22.3: Stephan Zweig on Middle-Class Youth and Sexuality

Question

1. According to Zweig, how did nineteenth-century authorities view young women’s sexuality?

The very existence of sexual desires in young women was denied.

Young women were assumed to have much the same desires as young men.

Young women were assumed to be much more sexual than men and therefore required closer attention.

Young women were indirectly encouraged to “sow their wild oats.”

Correct. The answer is a. According to Zweig, nineteenth-century authorities closed their eyes to the realities of female sexuality and imposed on young women an impossible ideal of moral and intellectual “purity.”

Incorrect. The answer is a. According to Zweig, nineteenth-century authorities closed their eyes to the realities of female sexuality and imposed on young women an impossible ideal of moral and intellectual “purity.”

Question

2. In Zweig’s view, why did nineteenth-century middle-class parents believe it was necessary to keep their daughters constantly occupied and constantly supervised?

They wanted to keep them physically and morally “pure.”

They wanted them to reach their highest potential.

They believed that women were naturally weak and immoral.

They viewed the raising of children as a kind of grand competition.

Correct. The answer is a. Fearing the danger of “erotic infection,” middle-class families sealed their daughters off from anything that could spark their sexuality.

Incorrect. The answer is a. Fearing the danger of “erotic infection,” middle-class families sealed their daughters off from anything that could spark their sexuality.

Question

3. Zweig suggested that the repressed sexual attitudes he described were

proof of the superiority of earlier generations.

reflective of a high moral standard.

limited to the middle and upper classes.

the norm throughout society.

Correct. The answer is c. As Zweig described the situation, the lower classes had much more open and honest attitudes towards sexuality.

Incorrect. The answer is c. As Zweig described the situation, the lower classes had much more open and honest attitudes towards sexuality.

Question

4. Which of these phenomenons did Zweig attribute to nineteenth-century sexual mores?

Low rates of population growth

Widespread prostitution

Healthy and happy marriages

Social and moral progress

Correct. The answer is b. Zweig contended that prostitution was much more common in the nineteenth century than in the early twentieth century—a fact he attributed to repressive nineteenth-century social mores.

Incorrect. The answer is b. Zweig contended that prostitution was much more common in the nineteenth century than in the early twentieth century—a fact he attributed to repressive nineteenth-century social mores.