The Status of Women 1625-88
- Created by: Tori
- Created on: 27-04-20 12:23
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- The Status of Women
- Background
- 17th century Britain was very patriarchal and misogynist.
- This was 'justified' by the bible and it's negative portrayals of women.
- Eg. original sin of Eve.
- Women in the early modern period were regarded as weak and open to temptation.
- The proper role of women was to be married, looking after the home and children.
- Also should be meek and submissive to their husbands.
- Medical theories explained and justified the biblical view of women as inferior.
- Argued that not only were they physically weaker than men, but their brains were different.
- They were intellectually inferior and virtually incapable of being educated.
- Argued that not only were they physically weaker than men, but their brains were different.
- This was 'justified' by the bible and it's negative portrayals of women.
- No significant change in the status of women in 1625-88.
- In Stuart Englad women were excluded from education, professions and many aspects of society.
- Women's roles were defined by their relationship to the men in their life.
- In Stuart Englad women were excluded from education, professions and many aspects of society.
- 17th century Britain was very patriarchal and misogynist.
- Impact of Wealth on the Status of Women
- Women at the to of society were in a better position than the majority of the population.
- Women could have social, economic and political influence in line with their economic standing.
- Eg, some of the wives of landowners acted as estate managers alongside their husbands.
- Eg, some wives of farmers, labourers and craftsmen took a role in the family economy.
- Despite this, there were limits to how they could use their influence.
- Women couldn't hold any formal offices, through which the political class exercised control.
- Despite the recent reign of Elizabeth I, and other notable strong female role models, women had to express their influence in less open political forms.
- Lack of progress despite this strong female leader.
- Women could have social, economic and political influence in line with their economic standing.
- Women at the to of society were in a better position than the majority of the population.
- Impact of the revolutionary years 1640-60
- The revolutionary years from 1640-60 provided the most opportunities for women to subvert the norms.
- During Civil War, women contributed to the war effort, preached, prophesised and published.
- However, although the Civil War created opportunities for women, the extent of the changeof women's roles should not be overstated.
- The war effort
- Some women took over the management of estates during their husand's absence as they fought in the civil war.
- Women also became garrison commandsers when their housws were besigned.
- In London, women worked on building fortifications and tended to the wounded.
- Religion
- After the breakdown of government control over religious practices in the 1640's, women were able to play a significant role in certain religious movements.
- Eg, the levelers and the quakers believed that the crucifixion had spiritually redeemed women from their subjugation to men.
- Civil War also witnessed an upsurge in female prophets.
- Estimated there were 300 female prophets during the 1640's and 50's.
- Can be argued that through the role of prophets women gained a degree of authority and were abe to make their voiced heard.
- Estimated there were 300 female prophets during the 1640's and 50's.
- After the breakdown of government control over religious practices in the 1640's, women were able to play a significant role in certain religious movements.
- Petitions and popular politics
- Petitions gave women a voice denied to them in formal politics.
- Women petitioned for peace, freedom of trade, changed to the imprisonment laws, ect.
- In August 1643, a crowd of women petitioned parliament for peace and food.
- In 1649, 10,000 women presented another petition to parliament to release John Lilburne
- However, Parliament took them as a joke and turned them away.
- In 1649, 10,000 women presented another petition to parliament to release John Lilburne
- Writing
- The collapse of censorship enabled women to publish their ideas and thoughts.
- There was an enormous increase in the number of publications by women.
- The collapse of censorship enabled women to publish their ideas and thoughts.
- The revolutionary years from 1640-60 provided the most opportunities for women to subvert the norms.
- Impact of the Restoration
- In 1660, Charles II reimposed on women and the order of pre-war times.
- However, there remained some notable examples of women who broke through the limits of male-dominated society.
- Eg, Bridget Bendish, grandaughter of Oliver Cromwell and daughter of new model army general Henry Ireton.
- She managed a saltpan and refinery in East Anglia in the Restoration period and challenged to duel a man who insulted her grandfather.
- Eg, Bridget Bendish, grandaughter of Oliver Cromwell and daughter of new model army general Henry Ireton.
- However, there remained some notable examples of women who broke through the limits of male-dominated society.
- By 1688 men continued to control society.
- In 1660, Charles II reimposed on women and the order of pre-war times.
- Background
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