American Noblewomen

The renaissance saw the rise of patriarchal institutions, and thus the fall of the power held by noble women who no longer fit within this male-dominated world. Therefore, it is easy to assume that they exercised no power at all, forced to bow to the will of their male counterparts. By using countless examples from the lives of French noblewomen during this time, Kettering displays a detailed historiography to provide evidence for her argument: that French noblewomen during this time utilised a considerable amount of power in the form of patronage. Though often indirect, this cannot be underestimated. She does this by first underlining the economic strength of these noblewomen. They were often given the difficult task of managing their family’s estates, accessing considerable income and influence through how money was spent. She suggests that the true economic influence these noblewomen held was hidden due to their position as silent partners; masquerading behind their male kin. Despite this, Kettering goes on to emphasise the importance of protecting the family name above all else, showing how women would often sacrifice their dowry’s in order to repay debts during times of crisis, and often spent their entire lives struggling to repay the debts accrued by their husbands or sons. She subtly suggests that power during this period was a …show more content…
For example, French noblewomen often became governesses and companions, able to lift their families from the edge of society through the influence they held over their employers, often strengthened due to their relationships beginning at a young age. However, this power is shown to be limited and variable, as women only held sway in female headed courts and still there was a relatively low number; only about ten