Women in the Middle Ages

In the middle ages women were treated as if they were completely inferior to men. this was taught to them by the church, it said they should take orders from their fathers and brothers. Some of the women were employed especially the wives of craftsmen, but only a fair few got high ebough to make a difference and be heard amongst the town. The women could work various jobs that included shopkeepers, spinners, or bakers. If the ladies were married or not they were still expected to work, and often they would have to combine many jobs so they could get a decent pay.

It was legal for a young boy to get married at the age of 14 and a young girl at the age of 12 with their parents consent. A betrothal often took place as little as 7 years of age. If you of high noble status then it could be from when you were babies…marriage was only legal when it was completed. Single women and the married wore opposite hairstyles, extremely different from today. Single women wore their loose and married women were supposed to keep their hair covered at all times for modesty. The jobs that married vs. non was different also, single women often spun for a living using handheld spindles and were known as spinsters.

Often, unmarried women entered the convent to serve a Christian life and earn a well mannered and responsible education. If a women owned land they were considered a powerful figure in society as well as the male land owners, which made them equal to a man. Women also had the rights to make wills and sign a document with a unique seal onl for her. These rights all went away after the woman was married because she had to forfeit all of these things to her husband. Then if he died she would get one third of his land in order to support herself.

As a young girl you would be sent away from your home to live with another noble family and learned manners, etiquette, and how to curtsy. As well as how to acquaint yourself with other noble families, be taught how to dance, ride a horse, and archery.

Here's a normal day for a peasant girl: Breakfast-bread and water, Dressing siblings, Feeding animals, Spinning, weaving, sewing, embroidery, and carding wool, Dinner-bread, water, and fried goose eggs, Working in the fields of wheat Praying at the church with my sisters, Delivering goods to the castle, Supper-fried fish, fried goose eggs, bread and water, Preparing for bed.

"Noble Women in the Middle Ages." Middle Ages. Ads by Google. 13 Nov. 2007 http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/noble-women-in-the-middle-ages.htm.
"Women of the Middle Ages." Middle Ages. 13 Nov. 2007 http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/Brisas/sunda/ma/1kimberly.htm.
"Women in the Middle Ages." Camelot International: Britain's Heritage and History. 2001. Knight International Bulgarian Property Specialist. 13 Nov. 2007 http://www.camelotintl.com/village/women.html.