Women In The Elizabethan Era

Peter Zilahy once said,” You have to make choices even when there is nothing to choose from.” This quote vastly reflects the life of Elizabethan women for many reasons. The main reasons for this includes: life determinations- education , career , even the food on the table, was controlled by one thing, Wealth! Wealth controlled an immense part of people’s lives. Additionally, there were even fashion laws controlled by wealth. Furthermore, women’s rights were highly restricted during this era. Women did not live the same during this time.

Despite the quantity, one would not allow the cash in their wallet dictate the way they live their life, but this was a manner of life during the Elizabethan Era. Wealth regulated almost everything you do

in your life. It determined where your profession , where you get an education ,even the food on your table! Richer families have an exceeding amount of opportunities for education for their children than less fortunate families. Why is this? Education was expensive during this time, which means, only the richer families could give their child a good education.

A person’s wealth is not depicted by the way their clothes appear.

However, during the Elizabethan Era, there were fashion laws that all families had to enforce, without exception. Queen Elizabeth’s fashion sense was elaborate, the law stated that upper class men and women were compelled to dress to Elizabethan standards. Furthermore, Middle/Lower class families were not expected to dress this way. The only path to becoming an upper class family is through money, which means jobs. Job opportunities , however , were uncomplicated to receive. Careers were broad during this time. Popular jobs included; Barber, Blacksmith, Baker, Physician , and

Janitor.

Somebody once said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” As a downfall of being an upper-class woman, if you have a great deal of money, be prepared to be predisposed , and loaded with numerous responsibilities. Another dollar, another responsibility! The lower class is unable to embrace as much as the upper class, because they can barely provide for themselves. There are responsibilities within the family , and outside the family. Although, it seems women were not respected much, they were highly expected from, and accounted for.

Elizabethan women perpetually lived by the phrase, “just be there.” .

Women were not as privileged , during this time, as they are today. Women could not enter any career involving law or medicine. Women were also prohibited from joining , or enlisting, into the military. Despite the fact that the daughters of families were permitted to get an education, rich or poor, women could not be accepted into University. They were only granted permission to work as a domestic employee; such as a cook or maid. However, it was critical that upper class daughters get a basic education from school. Nevertheless, upper class daughters were , however, allowed to have a private tutor to keep as an educator.

In some ways, life for women has changed drastically. Women are allowed to join any profession as they please, no matter what kind of financial state they are in. Today, wealth is not a requirement to live as desired . Life for women has come a very long

way.