Women's Role In Colonial America Essay

Freedom was narrowly defined during colonial America. The colonists arrival to the New World, held the possibility of opportunities and space for reform, however, those changes were only dictated by men. Men were respected, received as credible sources for information, and held all leadership positions in the colonies, which were under the economic and partial political control of Britain. In contrast, subservience was expected of women, which helped eliminate the insecurity of men regarding their social status. The colonies gaining independence was an imperative victory for women. It meant that they could begin to eradicate the strict gender role stereotypes that existed during colonial America and still exist today. Women lacked political

and personal freedom, a right to education, and encountered issues with reporting rape, which helped push them to played significant and active roles in the American Revolutionary War.

Colonial women did not enjoy political and personal freedom because they were considered unfit for roles of leadership.

Their voices and concerns were not heard, and most men thought it crucial that the situation should remain the same. That mindset is demonstrated on the Puritans journey from England to the New World. The Puritans sought to leave England because they wanted to purify the Church of England, and its practices. Along their journey, John Winthrop made his famous speech entitled “City Upon a Hill” to the colonists, “We must be knit together in this work as one man; we must take care of each other with brotherly affection.” However, Winthrop did not address all the colonists. Rather, he addressed those he believed would be able take control, and assure the prosperity and rise of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in a positive light to others. Those colonists were only males. The alienation and disrespect that women in colonial America felt began from their journey to the New World. Instead of the new colony symbolizing change from the patriarchal society in Britain, it was reaffirmed that gender roles were not an issue men were willing to

reform.

During colonial America, many women were punished after attempting to pursue intellectual studies, especially regarding religion. One of those remarkable women was Anne Hutchinson. Anne Hutchinson was a Puritan who wanted to preach in church, but due to her female gender, she was not given the liberty to do so. She believed that Biblical teachings allowed her freedom of speech in private locations. Hutchinson invited people to her home where she held discussions about the Bible and Puritan laws. Her discussions were deemed inappropriate for a woman to engage in, even though she asserted that her actions abided by the Bible’s principles. Anne was tried in court as a heretic, and was exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Women were also faced with contempt when they or their husbands on their behalf, came to report rape or sexual harassment.

Allegations were turned on them, in order for the man to walk scot-free. One case during colonial America involved a woman named Martha Richardson, who found out that she was pregnant before she got married. She remembered that she had previously fainted in her master’s house, in the midst of two white men and concluded that one must have raped her, but the court decided her claim was false. In the records of jurisdiction of New Haven, it is stated, “a woman who was raped- who had no delight in the act- could not conceive. Martha Richardson had conceived and borne a child, and thus she deserved to be publiquely and severely correcte' as a fornicator.” The justice system that existed in colonial America did not value women. The court reacted to reports of rape made by women in an unjust manner and doubted their integrity, in order for them to protect the reputation of white men. Thus, an environment was created where women were afraid of coming forward with reports of assault, because the rapists would most likely be

acquitted.

Colonial America was a time of strict gender roles and women were unable to grow as individuals in society, due to the fact that they had to be associated to a man, whether that man be a woman's father or husband. Women were painted as undignified, were not taken seriously when it came to reports of rape, and their intellectual pursuits were outlawed. Today, women are always being measured to men and told that they are not as smart and not as capable. Restrictions on women still exist today, due to the outrageous beliefs held during colonial America.