Puritans

Role of Women and Children Women did not play a leading role in Puritan society, yet they were more supportive in the home; Puritan society did not value them as equal to men. However, throughout time the privileges and expectations of women have changed drastically. Some of these improvements are based on the geography of the culture. Societies have grown and changed at varied rates throughout history. Women were expected to marry and raise a family. It was not always their choice as to who they married or how they were treated in the home. Household duties and care of the children, as well as of the men, was their primary focus. They had to be able to provide clothing, food and medicines from what they had. Religion in these Puritan societies was a primary drive in daily life. All homes followed basic rules of the church. Puritan women were very hard working members of the society and of the home, yet, they had no rights and were often mistreated. The beginning of immigration and the practice of indentured servitude changed the structure of Puritan society drastically as it altered the ages of marriage. The changes in society came about slowly and through increased education as well as with rising expectations of human rights. Women in puritan society had very little, if any, legal rights. Women were often looked down upon. The privileges between women now and then have changed drastically. Education is a big part of life, and so both genders have equal education, however, most privileges were not equal. Men were the ones who handled money; women had to ask to handle any portion of the money if they need it. Women were also controlled by the fact that they were not allowed to vote. Now, women are allowed to vote and are even allowed to run for president. Taking Ann Hutchinson for example, (need more here) There was a huge change when The nineteenth amendment was ratified in 1920 when women were given the right to vote, wich added to women’s independence. Marriage was a big part of Puritan life. Women were said to be used just for reproduction, pleasure, and housekeeping, along with a good foundation to raise a child . However, women had no choice but to marry. Today, women have the choice and marriage is not required. On average, a woman would marry in their early 20’s. Marriage back in this age was oftentimes violent and unhappy, but it was more likely for the marriage to be civil but the women had to obey their husbands. “ Love was an important element of christian marriage, and although some women suffered in unhappy or violent marriages, many wives in colonial America enjoyed loving relationships with their husband ( John A. Grigg 2) Women respected and loved their husbands a lot, however Women and children had to treat husbands and father as “king”.“....and women and children to their husbands and fathers (American History 1)” Women did not see anything wrong with the way they lived. They did not know how to stand up for themselves and they did not have the right to. The man of the house had all rights to make rules that must be followed. Today, violent marriage is abuse and is now illegal. Also, divorce is allowed when men treat their spouse without care. On the other hand,
Education was a main concern at this time. Not many women had privileges. “Only exceptional women learned to write more than their own names ( Caryn E. Neumann 1) .” Although, boys education was a higher rate than girls. As education grew, so did the rights of women. Education was not often for anyone. children often could not attend school because they had to stay home and help out around the farm ( Jason Newman 1). Comparing education back then to now is like day and night. Now you are encouraged to get education and are not allowed to drop out till age of 18. Also, if children not get their education in today 's society they often times will not get a decent paying job. Women had a large role to play when it came to household duties. Women were in charge of the home, kitchen garden, cleaning, cooking, caretaking, and sewing. Men were in charge of everything else, with exception of when he would go to war and the women would have to maintain their jobs and the men 's jobs as well. When men were away, women were considered the “helpmeets” to the spouse. In this situation, they could make decisions in things he had given her permission to be involved in. Women had to take the responsibility for the smooth running of the family farm or business. Today, women do have to get the jobs done; however, they do not have to fulfill these tasks as much and do not have to do them every single day. Women and men are seen as partners in the home and equal in most families. The roles are to be decided upon based on individual couples and not the culture. Women had to handle a lot and maintain “goodwives”. Women were viewed as “defenceless creatures.” ( women in colonial society) If a women was described as a “defenseless creature” today, the woman described would be offended. Children needed a proper care taker and women were the ones to make this happen. Now, both parents are there to look out for their child and make sure they are successful. Even when the husband or child was ill, the wife would have to know what to do to help the healing process move faster. She was expected to know home remedies that were passed down from generation to generation. Women were responsible for the health and well being of their family.
When it comes to religion, women were devoted to family and religion mainly. When today, this fact would differ between what religious customs the family had. Puritan life was also impacted greatly with the Bible. “..., the Holy Bible was the ultimate authority on all religious and work-related matters and served as the basis for their beliefs and practices( Bercovich 5) .” Women were expected to be very involved with their church and had to attend all church functions. The belief that salvation was a relationship with God was a new way of thinking. Up until now, acts determined your salvation. “..also stressed the idea that salvation could not be attained simply by performing good works for one’s fellow man and woman (Berchovitch 2).” Women were known to find comfort in their religious beliefs. The Puritan society had one accepted form of beliefs and religious practice. This was followed by all members of the community. Each person in the family had a role to play in the religious beliefs. With few exceptions, all families followed the same patterns. Today, religion is not required and depending on the family and their faith is whether one attends church services and gatherings. Each family chooses what is best for them.
One change from the 16th century to the 17th century was the rate of white women who came to the United States as indentured servants. This impacted the society for Mid-Atlantic women, as a whole as they then owed seven years of work on the feild (Neumann 2). Many family groups did not wan’t to settle in these regions. These years were often hard labor and very abusive. They could not begin to start their own families until their time was served. In the Puritan society, “marriage outside the society was forbidden” (pg 1 article 2). By the 18th century, women began to have some say in who they married rather than just being given away by their parents. They still had now ownership of anything. They could not sue, be sued or form a contract. Their “central purpose of marriage was to provide the foundation of family and the appropriate environment for raising children” (page 3 fo article 2) Women then and women today are not alike.

Works Cited

Bercovitch. Sacvan. Aspects of Puritan Religious Thought. New Yourk: AMS Press, 1984

“colonial courtship and marriage.” American History.ABC-CLIO,2013. Web. 29 Jan.2013

“marriage.” American History. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2013

Neumann, Caryn E. (2013). Women in Colonial Society. In AMerica in World History, Sharpe
Online Reference. Retrieved from

Newman, Jason. “public education.” American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 4 Mar. 2013

“Salem witchcraft trials.” American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 4 Mar. 2013

Cited: Bercovitch. Sacvan. Aspects of Puritan Religious Thought. New Yourk: AMS Press, 1984 “colonial courtship and marriage.” American History.ABC-CLIO,2013. Web. 29 Jan.2013 “marriage.” American History. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2013 Neumann, Caryn E. (2013). Women in Colonial Society. In AMerica in World History, Sharpe Online Reference. Retrieved from Newman, Jason. “public education.” American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 4 Mar. 2013 “Salem witchcraft trials.” American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 4 Mar. 2013