Status of women 1625-88
Status of Change/Continuity
Women
Social (status ● Women were portrayed and seen as devious Continuity
) due to teachings of the Bible. Eve was seen
as the original sin and so women were further
portrayed as unintelligent, small brain and
uneducated. For example, there were
punishments designed for women who were
seen as gossipy or adulterous such as a
brank. Women were also subjected to witch
trials;hanging, drowning etc. especially if
unmarried
● The role of women remained on being
submissive to their husbands and depending
on their status educating their children in
reading and writing etc. but excluded from
professions and places of education. For
example,girls were not allowed to be enrolled
into grammar schools reflecting the
educational opportunities only being
accessible for the male gentry members
● Social hierarchy played a factor in the role of
women. Women of higher social status had
economic, social and political standing. For
example, wives of landowners acted as estate
managers and would deal with the estates
finances. Wives of farmers, labourers and
craftsmen also had a role in the family
economy by carrying out physical work.
● Women weren’t able to hold any form of office
Religious 1640-1660 Change
● Breakdown of government control of religion
after 1640 enabled women to play a significant
role certain religious movements
Puritans:
● Puritan families found it necessary that
children were educated so women had to be
educated in order to teach their children;
however there was still a widespread belief
that women who were highly educated were
dangerous.
● Godly women played a central role in the
Puritan movement from its inception, actively
participating and supporting prominent
Protestants.For example, protests by women
exist, including the crowd of up to 6,000
women who petitioned parliament for peace in
August 1643. When John Lilburne, the
Status of Change/Continuity
Women
Social (status ● Women were portrayed and seen as devious Continuity
) due to teachings of the Bible. Eve was seen
as the original sin and so women were further
portrayed as unintelligent, small brain and
uneducated. For example, there were
punishments designed for women who were
seen as gossipy or adulterous such as a
brank. Women were also subjected to witch
trials;hanging, drowning etc. especially if
unmarried
● The role of women remained on being
submissive to their husbands and depending
on their status educating their children in
reading and writing etc. but excluded from
professions and places of education. For
example,girls were not allowed to be enrolled
into grammar schools reflecting the
educational opportunities only being
accessible for the male gentry members
● Social hierarchy played a factor in the role of
women. Women of higher social status had
economic, social and political standing. For
example, wives of landowners acted as estate
managers and would deal with the estates
finances. Wives of farmers, labourers and
craftsmen also had a role in the family
economy by carrying out physical work.
● Women weren’t able to hold any form of office
Religious 1640-1660 Change
● Breakdown of government control of religion
after 1640 enabled women to play a significant
role certain religious movements
Puritans:
● Puritan families found it necessary that
children were educated so women had to be
educated in order to teach their children;
however there was still a widespread belief
that women who were highly educated were
dangerous.
● Godly women played a central role in the
Puritan movement from its inception, actively
participating and supporting prominent
Protestants.For example, protests by women
exist, including the crowd of up to 6,000
women who petitioned parliament for peace in
August 1643. When John Lilburne, the
