Women's Roles In The Middle Ages

How are those of the female gender supposed to act? In the 1930’s women were frill members of society and their only purpose was reproducing and doing domestic or menial jobs. However, in modern times, women are independent and have significant roles in society. Although society’s view of this subject has changed drastically for the better, some matters don’t change. Women in the 1930’s were considered naturally weaker than men, squeamish, and unable to perform work requiring muscular or intellectual exertion.

Throughout History, women have long struggled and fought for the same equality, justice, and rights as males in society. Historians have two opposing views of what life was like in Puritan society. One side argues that Puritan society was a golden age for women as they worked alongside their husbands, had an important role in the household. However, opposing historians argue that Puritan women were inferior to men in the society for five main reasons. Women were inferior because they were supposed to be silent company, they only received half the inheritance of their brothers, they were meant to have and take care of the children, they received harsher punishment for their wrongs, and they had to follow strict rules.

Woman suffrage was a rough time for woman. They proved in many ways, to men and the government, that they were capable of having the responsibility to vote. Except, no one seemed to care and thought that they were not ready. Allowing women to vote is a right because otherwise it would be considered oppression, women are just as capable as men to vote, and they will help improve the government. First of all, if women were not granted the right to vote, it would be considered oppression.

Women in the 1600s to the 1800s were very harshly treated. They were seen as objects rather than people. They were stay-at-home women because people didn’t trust them to hold jobs. They were seen as little or weak. Women living in this time period had to have their fathers choose their husbands.

Not only did men see women as unintelligent, they also saw them as weak and compliant. What made this worse was that women of higher status would have a lot of free time since they had servants to do everything. They would spend their time strolling around or doing ‘feminine hobbies’; this affirmed mens’ notion that that women were idle and did not do much, so they treated them this way. To see how dire their situation was, one must must only have to read A Midsummer Night’s Dream. While fictitious, this story does show one bit of truth, the way women were being treated during this era.

Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s contribution to this cause was monumental to the start of this movement. They, along with plenty of other women and rights activists, fought for equality for women in society. Not having the right to vote made women feel as if their opinions and political views were trivial and not equal to those of men. However, men felt as if women were too emotional, less educated, and were unable to evaluate political issues that did not pertain to a group consisting of mostly stay at home mothers. Obviously, as history has now demonstrated, exactly the opposite is true.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a late fourteenth century Arthurian Romance Poem. During the time of Sir Gawain, society was dominated by males with women receiving little power. Women were treated with chivalry, but not respected as beings of their own rights. Knights were prided in having the code of chivalry yet were under the assumption woman could not attain much for themselves.

Women were considered to be the weaker link of the family, and not as strong physically or mentally as men. Colonial women are expected to give total respect to the men and to obey them without question. Their lives was depended on the religion, wealth, and the society or colony they are from. Colonial women did not have many legal rights or at least freedom during the period. Women were not allowed to do many thing such as voting, holding public office, or even the right to serve on juries.

This reflects a unique aspect of American Life where women were treated as lesser than their male counterparts even though they were very important to society. They played a large part in keeping their society going, but did not get any recognition in the form of power or respect. Women served as housewives, cooking, cleaning, and doing anything else necessary to take care of their husbands, children, and houses. Ulrich discusses how housewives “demonstrated the old proverb, ‘A man works from sun to sun, but a woman’s work is never done’ “ (Ulrich 67). Housewives play an essential role in the functioning of their family, but the sons of the family inherit the land instead of the

Society during that time, believed that women weren’t intelligent enough to take on such roles. Women in the Merchant of Venice go against their gender roles. Men did not think that women could ever be as smart as they were, and did not listen or take advice from women that is why Portia had to dress up as a man just to get the men to listen to her and Antonio was saved just because of her intelligence. Here is revealed the idea of love that women can do everything to see their husbands happy. Jessica also goes against the gender role of women, because she is making her own decision about her life.

In comparison to men, women were thought to be fragile and innocent. This was mostly because of the Code of Chivalry which caused men to be kinder and more gentlemanly to women creating a romanticized image of women. She was overall respected and not normally deceived. The role of women during the medieval time period was also particularly different from the ones of the classical period. The women were involved in the public affairs of the estate, unlike Greek and Rome.

Chivalry Chivalry is the medieval code of conduct for knighthood. The code of conduct includes honor, honesty, courteousness, and bravery. The word chivalry comes from the french word “chevalier” meaning horsemen; a knight or a young man. Knights were expected to be brave, aggressive, and fierce. Although expected to be aggressive, knights are also expected to show mercy towards their enemies.

During the Elizabethan era, woman’s roles were still very limited, and the society was patriarchal. Men were supposed to be the breadwinners, while woman were expected to be housewives. It was estimated that a woman gave birth every two years, but children died from sickness, so it prevented families from ever becoming large. Childbearing was considered a big honor to woman, as children were seen as blessings from God. However, many woman were highly educated.

For decade women have been discriminated by society, all around the world. In many countries women are still treated as the inferior sex. “daily life for women in the early 1800s in Europe(Britain), was that of many obligations and few choices. Some even compare the conditions of women in time as a form of slavery.” (Smith, Kelley. "

Women in Elizabethan England, were not treated with as much respect as they should have been, but they were not treated as if they were not human beings. They were typically seen to be the weaker sex, mentally and physically and were thought to need a male figure constantly watching over them. If a woman was single, she was usually watched after by a father or an older brother, but if the woman was married it would be her husband’s job to take after her. Men were the ones that brought home the money. They were the head of the home and in charge of most decisions that took place.