Gender Roles In The Puritan Era

Gender roles have tremendously changed since the Puritan era. Gender played a big factor, and the way you were treated was based on whether you were a man, a woman, or a child. Everyone had different duties, and they were all expected to follow their roles. Being a man was a lot different than being a woman or a child. Men, women, and children all had different roles in the Puritan society. Being a man in the Puritan society was a lot easier than being a woman or a child. Men were the “leaders and the ones who made the rules.” A man’s role to his wife was “to handle all financial matters [by himself]” for his family (Puritan Women). A man had to pay for the things his family needed. Men had more opportunities than a women. Men were able to “get a good education, unlike women.” Men were taught basic education as a child and learned how to hunt and fish (Colonial Column). Being a man in the Puritan society had a lot of advantages, but it was not easy being a leader. Being the man of the house meant that “Fathers were the ones to give discipline to their children.” If a child acted up

They had many duties and did not have many rights. A mother was the one to “teach her children religion, discipline, and affection [at a young age]” in the house. A mother had authority over her children, which is why she had to teach them (Puritan Women). Women in the Puritan society were looked down upon. They were considered ‘“the weaker vessel in both body and mind’” (Puritan Women). Men were seen as the strong ones, while the women were stomped on by them. Women in the Puritan society also “produced food and clothing [for their family]” (Puritan Women). Women did not have the same rights as men. At church “women were not allowed to pray publicly with a congregation, could not lead prayer, and they were not suppose to interpret the Scriptures” (Puritan Women). Women were looked at as if they were a shame to the