Women In Colonial Times

Colonial Women In America

The early women and settlers were expected to help the men in a variety of hard labor that was essential in survival. As time passed the lives of Colonial women became more traditional roles of women which related to taking care of the house or farm and raising the children. The work roles were dependent on wealth and status of the women.

Through resource sharing, I learned that the legal rights of Colonial women were few. Men dominated society and women were subservient to the men in her family such as her father and bothers. Divorce was practically unknown as Colonial America. Women in real communities had some social power through informal channels. They worked together through childbirths and funerals. Selling and buying milk, butter, or thread was what most women did. Privacy did not exist during that time and social control mattered from sexuality to economic transaction remained primarily external and often in the hands of the women who had one job, "gossip".

In the novel Born of Liberty, in Colonial societies, women who delivered children outside of marriage were faced many burdens. They were brought to court where they were accused of adultery or fornication. Some of these cases led to legitimating marriage and some women just received little support. However the children automatically became servants and had no choice.

This chapter was the most informational. Learning that women had commercial opportunities during that time was pretty impressive to know. Economic success lead to separation in men's and women's religious as well as economic activities. It gave me a background of information of how women were treated during Colonial times. The reading of "Born Of Liberty" was very interesting and where I learned the most. Finding our own links through resource searching was interesting because of us found different information's of Colonial Women. It was more informative to do research and learn about the assignment. Almost every bit of the information above, I learned through reading the book and research.