The role of women in Europe in the 1400's and 1500's was very important in laying the foundation down for the role of women in America. During this time period, people began moving from Europe to the America's. The Europeans brought their culture and values over to the new lands, which included the social structure. Many people came over to escape religious persecution or to raise their status in society, however the status of women remained the same as it was in Europe for a great period of time.
Working Women in English Society, 1300-1620 by Marjorie Keniston McIntosh analyzes the role of women in Great Britain during the 14th-17th century. (We will be focusing mainly on the 15th and 16th century.) During the 1400's, in social terms, women were expected to marry and were still seen as bearers and the raisers of children. Women taught the children practical skills that they would need in their lives, such as how to behave in society. They did all the work at home, which included attending physical and emotional needs of family, providing care to the children, and cooking and maintaining the house. This encouraged men to continue work outside the home. At all ages, women were encouraged to stay at home and do their household chores, remain loyal to their fathers or husbands and support others. The social class of a woman was determined by her husband's job. If he was an aristocrat, she was seen as from a higher class, merchant families were middle class, and so on. Women were also able to re-marry if they became widowed. Before, a widow was expected to die with her husband, at his funeral, or be taunted by society for the rest of her life. The idea that it was now acceptable for a woman to marry gave women a tad bit more freedom, in the sense that her life would not be miserable after the death of her husband. During this time period, especially during the 1500's, the economy began shifting from agricultural to industrial. Many women, mainly from villages, still stayed at home while their husbands worked, but some women, mainly city women, became heavily involved in the market. Women began going out to not only to buy products for the house, but also to generate some income for the families, especially younger women. Some women provided services and others sold clothing, food, or drinks. This was accepted by society, because they were bringing income into the house, while still fulfilling their duties at home. While the role of women in society increased greatly during the 15th and 16th centuries, the status of women socially did not change much. In the workplace, men did not want women to take their jobs or for women to become too powerful by granting them too much freedom. Women were still sub-ordinate to men, although they did have more freedom economically and socially. They were able to go out of the house more and interact with society and earn some money for the family, while also given the choice to re-marry after becoming widowed. Society did reduce their strictness on the behavior and freedom of women, however their status in society did not change much, as this was the beginning of the new role of women in society.
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AuthorSimran, Ananya, and Paolo Archives
November 2016
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