Medieval Women: Roles and Responsibilities

Women in the Medieval Times had harsher roles and responsibilities than women of the Anglo-Saxon times. During Medieval time women weren't genuinely seen as “important” or “significant” which is actually untrue. At both of these times in history women were the heart of everything. They were the pieces that the puzzle needed to be complete. Some may not of noticed it or think that, but women still are very important in everyday life.

In Medieval times women had a harsh life! Women spent their entire lives being dictated and run to serve their fathers and soon husbands. Women grew up learning from their mothers that you shall always put your husband's first, your husband is always right and that you are to do as they say. The main role for women during Medieval time was childbearing and taking care of the household. It is said by countless historians that several customs of the Medieval time came from the Roman Catholic Church. "Women in Medieval Society - The British Library." N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.

Numerous women didn't have the favorable fortune of growing up in a wealthy family and having money.

The women's worth was determined by what type of family they were born into. Many were peasants and had to marry around age fourteen and not to someone they truly loved. They had to do strenuous work such as take care of the house, the animals and sometimes if they were unlucky even the yard to help their husbands. Sometimes peasant women weren’t fortunate to marry they had to be servants. When they weren't married, they had to work hard, laborious jobs such as farming or being a paid for really low wages. ("Medieval Women - History Learning Site." History Learning Site. N.p., 2016. Web. 11 Oct. 2016.

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On the other hand, if they were fortunate to be born into a wealthy family, they were luckier. Wealthier women were well-respected, unlike peasant women. Even though they couldn't pick out their husbands, they were able to tell their parents who interested them. Wealthier women were supposed to take care of the house and their kids, while their husbands take care of the land and animals.Wealthier women were well-respected, unlike peasant women. Even though they couldn't pick out their husbands, they were able to tell their parents who interested them. After they got married the noble women were able to worry solely on their family, social ranks and their children. The wealthier women were also able to play games and hunt with their husbands.

While peasant women or lower class women usually had to help carry on whatever their family's business was or usually did whatever it was their husband asked. Such as merchants, farmers or even servants. If these peasant women were lucky to marry they would still be obligated to to do their share of work with for their family. Even when they had kids it was a struggle. During this time period medicine and childbearing wasn’t as safe and advanced as today's. Many women either died during childbirth or were able to give birth and then died soon later. It’s said that around 20% of women had passed due to giving birth and not having the proper medication and hospitalization.

Around Anglo-Saxon time period men were seen as the Warriors and Head of Households. Women were very overlooked and disregarded. Women undoubtedly had a lot to do when you sit and look back, they were one of the main people to keep towns and families together. They had specific roles such as being the peacekeeper, cupbearers, and the memory keepers. Yes, women weren’t respected, but women of the Anglo-Saxon time didn’t have to serve their husbands, or have to get married at a young age. They were respected more, had more freedom and lenient responsibilities.

It's clear to see that during Anglo-Saxon 410-660 women had more freedom than the restraints on women of the Medieval Time 476-1500. Women were never truly acknowledged or even respected as much as they should of been. Although women of the Anglo-Saxon time were somewhat seen as important or had big roles, women of the medieval times had it bad. Women were seen as just typical or standard, but women were the opposite. Without women the men wouldn't be as noble as they are today. They couldn't do what women had to do, or deal with what they had to deal with. Moral of the story women in the Medieval times had it bad!