Responsibilities
In medieval times, women had many domestic responsibilities; caring for children, tending cattle, preparing food and more. As well as daily work, women also had to attend their families. During harvest, which was the busiest time of the year, women often joined their husbands on the fields to help bring the crops inside. They participated in cottage industries, which included baking and brewing.
Women that lived in towns also had similar duties and responsibilities of women that lived in the country. They assisted their fathers and partners in a range of crafting, which include producing textiles, leather goods and metal goods. In a village, women would also have to commit to many of the jobs the men did, but would earn less. Approximately 90% of women were involved in some sort of farm work.
Wives and Nuns
Many women had very little control of where their lives took them. Young women who were to marry, usually had their weddings arranged by their families. Although, husbands didn’t have much choice in who they were to marry either. If widowed, women then had legal independence and financial resources. Most women were married in their teenage years.
The main alternatives for a woman in the middle ages were to either marry or become a nun. Most female orders understood that women were to live behind a monastery or inside an individual cell and lived a life of work, prayer and contemplation.
Living
Most women lived in small rural communities, such as towns and in the countryside. The life of women in medieval towns and cities depended greatly on their social status. Women who were born into wealthier merchant families usually dedicated themselves to organizing and taking charge of the household and raising children, while those from poorer families were expected to help in the family business. Women who did work mostly worked as spinners, saleswomen and bakers. However, they were often forced to work in physical jobs for lower wages than men.
Bibliography
Women in the Middle Ages - World History Online. 2016. Women in the Middle Ages - World History Online. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.heeve.com/middle-ages-history/women-in-the-middle-ages.html. [Accessed 31 August 2016].
History Learning Site. 2016. Medieval Women - History Learning Site. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medieval-england/medieval-women/. [Accessed 31 August 2016].
The British Library. 2016. Women in medieval society - The British Library. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.bl.uk/the-middle-ages/articles/women-in-medieval-society. [Accessed 31 August 2016].
By Elisha Rea
In medieval times, women had many domestic responsibilities; caring for children, tending cattle, preparing food and more. As well as daily work, women also had to attend their families. During harvest, which was the busiest time of the year, women often joined their husbands on the fields to help bring the crops inside. They participated in cottage industries, which included baking and brewing.
Women that lived in towns also had similar duties and responsibilities of women that lived in the country. They assisted their fathers and partners in a range of crafting, which include producing textiles, leather goods and metal goods. In a village, women would also have to commit to many of the jobs the men did, but would earn less. Approximately 90% of women were involved in some sort of farm work.
Wives and Nuns
Many women had very little control of where their lives took them. Young women who were to marry, usually had their weddings arranged by their families. Although, husbands didn’t have much choice in who they were to marry either. If widowed, women then had legal independence and financial resources. Most women were married in their teenage years.
The main alternatives for a woman in the middle ages were to either marry or become a nun. Most female orders understood that women were to live behind a monastery or inside an individual cell and lived a life of work, prayer and contemplation.
Living
Most women lived in small rural communities, such as towns and in the countryside. The life of women in medieval towns and cities depended greatly on their social status. Women who were born into wealthier merchant families usually dedicated themselves to organizing and taking charge of the household and raising children, while those from poorer families were expected to help in the family business. Women who did work mostly worked as spinners, saleswomen and bakers. However, they were often forced to work in physical jobs for lower wages than men.
Bibliography
Women in the Middle Ages - World History Online. 2016. Women in the Middle Ages - World History Online. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.heeve.com/middle-ages-history/women-in-the-middle-ages.html. [Accessed 31 August 2016].
History Learning Site. 2016. Medieval Women - History Learning Site. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medieval-england/medieval-women/. [Accessed 31 August 2016].
The British Library. 2016. Women in medieval society - The British Library. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.bl.uk/the-middle-ages/articles/women-in-medieval-society. [Accessed 31 August 2016].
By Elisha Rea