Gender RolesWhat place did men and women have in society?

Were men the bosses?

It is very important to realise that men AND women had important roles in EME. YOU WON’T GET POINTS IN ESSAYS BY SLAGGING

OFF WOMEN !

16th and 17th C women in England were more restricted than they are today, but compared to other societies they had more advantages. Men and women had rights under the law (both

could sue and be sued) Both could buy, sell, own property and give it

away in their wills. Both had important roles in the economy, and the

raising of families. Both had , according to the church, an immortal

soul

Role of Men in EME

Public life, Church, Family and Economy (4 spheres of life)

Public = Men had first right to throne (before elder female

siblings) Only men could be in Parliament = also only men

could vote in parliamentary elections All legal officials - judges, jurors, lawyers – were

men. Women’s only role was specific to female prisoners.

All military officers were men (women generally had to men’s jobs while they were away fighting)

Men carried most of the burden of public duties, they often had to act for their wives in areas where a single woman would do it herself Reinforces idea of being subject to the husband

Role of Men in EME cont..

Church Women could not be priests or ministers Nuns were very influential in Roman Catholic

church but they had little formal power Only men could preach in public Lay officials (non-religious) were almost all men

Economy Less exclusively male but still dominated by men. Men owned most of the land and ran businesses Women were not allowed to compete with men for

jobs, even if they were capable Mostly men that inherited land (even if there were

daughters)

Role of Men in EME cont..

Family life for a Man Man was head of the family – if they didn’t

exercise that responsibility they were ridiculed Had to provide $$ support Household management usually done by women,

but some men shared role Men had little to do with kids when they were

young – not included in childbirth Men typically raised the boys and wives raised the

girls Plenty of opportunities for women to do things by

themselves – men were excluded from Childbirth; raising of babies; female discussion

groups

ROLE OF WOMEN

Why were women considered inferior to

men?

RELIGIOUS REASONS

EVE WAS CREATED AFTER ADAM, AND FROM HIS BODY. THEREFORE, MAN WAS SUPERIOR TO WOMEN

A WOMAN HAD TEMPTED ADAM TO EAT THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT WOMEN WERE PROHIBITED FROM SPEAKING IN CHURCH

MEDICAL REASONS MANS PHYSICAL STRENGTH MEANT MEN WERE SUPERIOR MEN WERE THOUGHT TO HAVE LARGER BRAINS SOME MEDICAL WRITERS CONSIDERED WOMEN “DEFORMED

MALES” AT CONCEPTION THE EMOTIONAL CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MENSTRUAL

CYCLE MEANT WOMEN WERE INCAPABLE OF MAKING RATIONAL CHOICES

SOCIAL REASONS

MEDIEVAL SOCIETY HAD PLACED GREAT IMPORTANCE ON FIGHTING SKILLS WHICH REQUIRED WEAPONS OF GREAT STRENGTH

THE NATURAL DISADVANTAGES WOMEN HAD IN PERFORMING HARD PHYSICAL LABOUR GAVE MEN AN ADVANTAGE IN PHYSICAL WORK

CLEARLY, SOME WOMEN ARE STRONGER THAN SOME MEN - THIS FACT WAS IGNORED IN WRITINGS AT THE TIME

IT WAS FELT WOMENS ROLE WAS AT HOME LOOKING AFTER THE CHILDREN

WOMENS ROLES : PUBLIC AND PRIVATE

LEGAL POSITIONo A WARNING: DON’T ASSUME WOMEN HAD NO RIGHTS UNDER LAW. SOME

ESSAYS ALSO ARE VAGUE OR EXTREME ON THISo COMPLICATED SITUATION: WOMEN HAD SPECIAL PROTECTION. o EG FEME SOLE: AN UNMARRIED WOMAN ( FEME SOLE) HAD MORE LEGAL

RIGHTS THAN HER MARRIED SISTER: FEME COVERTo THE DOCTRINE OF COVERTURE WAS IMPORTANT. THIS MEANS A MARRIED

COUPLE ARE ONE PERSON - AND THAT ONE PERSON IS THE HUSBANDo THE HUSBAND WAS LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS WIFE AND CHILDRENo WOMEN HAD FEW RIGHTS OVER HER BODY. WIFE BEATING WAS LEGAL, BUT

WAS FROWNED UPON BY SOCIETYo HER EARNINGS BECAME THE HUSBANDS, AS DID ANY INHERITANCES

CONTINUED

EXEMPTIONS TO COVERTURE EXISTED EG LONDON. WOMEN COULD TRADE HERE DUE TO LOCAL CUSTOMS

A WOMAN COULD CONSENT TO MARRY AT 12 , COMPARED TO 14 FOR A BOY. HOWEVER, THE AVERAGE WAS 26

A MARRIED WOMAN HAD THE RIGHT TO BE MAINTAINED BY HER HUSBAND

LOCAL AUTHORITIES COULD MAKE A WOMAN AGED 14 TO 40 GO INTO SERVICE UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF A MAN.

AS A GENERAL RULE, WOMEN IN EME HAD MORE LEGAL RIGHTS THAN COUNTERPARTS IN WESTERN EUROPE

PUBLIC OFFICE

WOMEN COULD NOT VOTE IN ELECTIONS, SIT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, BE JURORS OR SHERIFFS

WOMEN ONLY CAME INTO PUBLIC SPHERES WHEN FEMALE AND MALE SPHERES CAME INTO CONTACT EG WITCHCRAFT CASES - TESTIFYING ABOUT MARKS.

WOMEN PERFORMED WORK SUCH AS WARDENS FOR FEMALE PRISONERS, NURSES, WARDROBE MISTRESSES

CHURCH WOMEN COULD NOT HOLD OFFICE IN THE CHURCH.

PROTESTANTISM BANNED NUNNERIES WOMEN WERE IMPORTANT IN LOCAL

PARISHES

Women in the Economy

Still male-dominated but not as much as other parts of society

Many widows were allowed to keep running their late husband’s business eg. Livery companies (clothing etc)

Some women licensed as surgeons but main occupations were in schools, hospitals, food and hospitality industry.

Match terms

Coverture Feme Covert Feme Sole Livery companies Jury of matrons

Unmarried woman Examined some women

prisoners Allowed some women

to practice their late husband’s trade

Married woman Doctrine that said

husband wife legally one person

The Female Sphere

Women had their own lives, very separate to men

When they met together away from men, all modesty was lost.

They had their own separate economy of gift and exchange – embroidery, textiles, food and plants – all gifts contributed to their standard of living somehow.

Women had very close friends, who they met regularly, confided in, and when apart wrote letters which revealed ‘passionate friendships’ Perhaps they did this to try and lessen the impact of

restrictions on their lifestyle?

Whatever the reason it is clear that despite the restrictions placed on women they still led full, active lives – much of it away from their husbands !

What factors affected family life and the role of women?

High death rate (30/1000 pa) greatest disrupter to family life. Many people died while their children were still young (and dependent). Some families even died out completely.

Re-marriage and blended families caused problems.

High mortality in young kids – only ¾ of children lived till 15.

Long illnesses and permanent disability impoverished families.

Unemployment could lead to men leaving family to find work

Even upper class families had to endure separation if Dad was JP, MP or royal officials.

Long Term Trends

Final stages of enclosure may have affected some families Enclosure – fencing in of common grazing land to

make it private property = increased numbers of unemployed.

Fall in real wages – led to falling living standards – made people wait longer to get married

Internal (to cities from rural areas) and overseas migration also affected many families. Many men took off to live in American colonies – to

escape religious persecution in some cases. The people that were on the Mayflower were Puritans – extreme Protestants.

Crisis Situations

Poor harvests in 1590’s, 1620’s and 1648-1652 disrupted the economy and led to increased internal migration – people looking for jobs and food.

Epidemic diseases Often followed bad harvests Bubonic plague most feared – happened in London

in 1563, 1578, 1582, 1593, 1625 and 1664-5. Last one most well-known

‘New ague’ – probably a severe form of influenza in 1558/9

Smallpox in 1562 – nearly killed Elizabeth I

Disrupted economy

Diseases caused

instability

Unintended mobility as they run

away from disease

Killed family members

Civil War

Crawford suggests that the Civil War intensified the existing problems and risks

Civil War led to death of about 10% of all the men in England – largest casualty rate before WW1 Large numbers in armies separated husbands from

families, postponed marriage and lowered birth rate

Families suffered Men away from home; high taxation to run armies;

disruption to trade; compulsory billeting of soldiers.

Clergymen lost their incomes when parishes taken by enemy

Effect on Women of Civil War

Women affected by war – had to run their homes, look after soldiers, prepare food, act as prostitutes, fire wardens

They contracted diseases from soldiers

Suffered great deal of emotional harm Some families were divided in war

Lady named Mary Rich daughter of Parliamentarian Admiral and sister-in-law of Royalist commandeer.

Susan, Countess of Denbigh, husband on Royalist, her eldest son on other side.

Women became much more politically active during the Civil War

Women favoured peace initiatives – some joined radical sects. They petitioned Parliament in support of Levellers – But never asked for the vote.

Restoration period was time of relative ‘normality’ in families.

ESSAY

Describe the nature of family life in EME between 1558-1667. Evaluate the extent of stability and change in family life between 1558-1667.

Incl. Description of situation in context. Analysis of continuity vs change Evaluate influence of issue on people

POSS INTRO The family unit was very important in early modern

England. Men and women had very distinct roles inside this unit but both were considered vital. Families were based on love and loyalty, and they faced many challenges to their stability from 1558-1667. Many of these challenges forced changes to the roles of men and women as parents and partners.

Description in context

What was meant by ‘family’ AT THE TIME

Through family wealth and property passed on - primogeniture. Explain why.

Social status of family (either governNING class or goverNED) had impact on roles of members – give examples, e.g. economic and emotional roles.

War affected stability and coherence of families

Continuity and change over time

Great deal stayed same – people wanted stability and to keep order

Nuclear family was most common - wife at home; man in charge

Governing classes saw marriage as best way to maintain wealth and property

Gradual relaxation of parent’s role in choosing partner

Many factors affecting stability of family weren’t under control

Eg. High death rate; need to find work; poverty (various reasons); disease outbreaks; trade disruptions due to war or epidemics

Increasing urbanisation Civil War

Divided families Dramatic increase in

death rate Spread of disease Land loss/gain from

war – also loss of status

Women taking on man’s role during war

Influence of situation on people

Should discuss influence of war; poor harvests in 1590’s; plague, urbanisation of working men.

Also include disruptions due to re-marriage, widowhood, arranged marriages (though these less important than war)

There was a lot that could have destabilised the family unit, but it managed to maintain its integrity throughout this period Therefore could not have been as weak as some

historians have assumed.