Role of Women in the Middle Ages
Sexism in the Middle Ages
http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/middle-ages-women.htm
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Women dominated by men
Had to obey not just dads, but all males in family
Disobedience resulted in beating
http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/noble-women-in-the-middle-ages.htm
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Had no choice of husband
Had to marry at a very young age
Husband had full control over wife
Main job was providing kids
Usually died in childbirth
Usually only lived 40 years
Diet lacked Vitamin C
Sometimes cut and bled to make skin pale
7 year olds sent away to live elsewhere
Rarely married for love
http://www.camelotintl.com/village/women.html
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Had to keep their hair covered when they were married
If unmarried usually became nuns
Unmarried women equal to men
Married women gave up everything
Widows got 1/3 of dead husband’s land
http://www.localhistories.org/middleageswomen.html
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Had to work as hard as men
OK for husband to beat wife up
Saxon England women had more rights
Peasant children had more choice in marriage, but helped parents at 7-8
http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projf983a/wife.htm
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Didn’t receive formal education; they just became housewives pleasing their husbands
Not involved in society or government
Basically owned by husbands
http://www.sequim.k12.wa.us/151920826195715890/lib/151920826195715890/_files/Puzzle_of_Sale
m_PP_Crucible.ppt#264,8,Widows
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Elderly, humble, often widowed women often accused of witchcraft
Widows accused because of appearance and they owned land
Low social status, so could not verbally defend themselves
http://www.medieval-spell.com/Roles-Of-Women-In-The-Middle-Ages.html
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Barely any legal rights
Usually not allowed to divorce/remarry
Many peasants not married
Respected by the church
Nuns could sew and read
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http://library.thinkquest.org/10949/fief/medlady.html
Engaged at 7
Once married, had no rights
Needed husband’s permission to vote or write a will
In crises, took over men’s jobs
Also in charge of servants taking care of kids
In charge of entertainment and cooking
Only sometimes had own bedroom
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http://www.medievaltimes.info/medieval-life-and-society/women-in-the-middle-ages.html
Society dominated by men; giving birth more curse than blessing
Church believed women responsible for sin and responsible for personification of devil in
temptation form
Medieval queens sometimes ruled alone
Not allowed same family or education rights as men
Role of society limited to child care and household
Widows took care of family
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http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/daily-life-peasant-women-middle-ages.htm
Peasant women woke up at 3 am
In charge of all cooking and housekeeping
Work longer in summer
Only ate when husband and children finished work
Little leisure time
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http://partner.galileo.org/schools/gibson/4-5_fp/Projects/nobleladies_group.html
Church considered noble women “gate to the devil”
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Mattress filled with straw
Had to look after servants
Main job to give husband a son
Had 6-8 kids, most didn’t live past 3
Took over castle when husband away
Some fought to defend kingdom
Wore many layers to keep warm
Only they allowed to wear red/purple
Hosted parties
Skilled at board games
Sometimes cooked 120 piglets, 6000 eggs, or 60 full sized pigs
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World Book 2006 #17: S-Sn
Women not allowed voting
Only they bore kids, so had to take care
Get less money than men in work, even if educated
Not expected to excel in Science or Math
Teachers pay less attention to girls
Sometimes fired if pregnant
Often stereotyped as dependent, gentle, weak
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Jordan, William Chester. The Middle Ages: A Watts Guide for Children.
Judaism favours males
Females didn’t receive formal education
Widows sometimes made to marry husband’s brother, so valuables remained in husband’s
family
Men not punished if beating wife, unless drunk or angry
Muslims believe men and women unequal
Expected to produce boys and marry
Peasants did everything in house
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Huntley, Theresa. Women in the Renaissance.
Men had all power
Authors though small bones/skulls caused weakness and less intelligence
Church blamed sin on Eve in Bible, commited 1st sin
Women uable to do much besides have kids
Education considered wasted on non-noble women
No education because household skills/pleasing husband more important than reading/writing
By 1500’s German, Swedish girls required education to learn Bible
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Beauty VERY important
Some women shaved heads, bought wigs to look “ideal”
Cosmetics had poisonous chemical, like lead
Panties allowed women not to expose selves if riding horses
Nobles expected midwives to deliver baby
Birth of boys important
Brides gave husbands dowry (money and property)
Prayed for help in childbirth
Even used “magical” objects to assist them in giving birth
Eastwood, Kay. Women and Girls in the Middle Ages.
 Women’s roles differed between classes and marital status
 Usually moms by 15
 Boys important to carry dad’s family name and inherit land
 If kings died and no sons, daughter became queen
 Took care of house when husbands fighting
 Defended castle if attacked
 After Plague, women found better jobs
 Some women had their own businesses
 Peasants paid lord with all their possessions, including baked bread
 On May Day, peasant women danced around ribbon covered maypole
 Prettiest girl chosen Queen of the May
 Before 1100s, all couple had to say was “I do” and then they were married
 Marriage arranged to bring important families together
 Poor girls sometimes chose husband
 Many girls became widows at young age if husbands killed in battle or died of old age
 Widows received part of husband’s property, called a dower
 Humble and obedient towards husband, not arguing in public