The Influence of Views of Gender of the 16th Century over Elizabeth I’s Rule Elizabeth I, who ruled from 1558-1603, was a powerful and wise female ruler who had several successes in unifying and developing England. She was the daughter of Henry VIII, who had wanted a male heir for all of his life, and was greatly displeased when he had a daughter. Women were considered fragile and incompetent to do anything, which made them quite useless in 16th century European society, and made people wonder if they were fit to rule. Deeply influenced by the misogyny and critiques against a female ruler because of their assumed weak and feebleness, Elizabeth I diligently presented herself as a valuable and strong Queen and she pushed aside any person who
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His background as an archbishop set his values and ideas about things such as gender based on an interpretation of the Bible or Church teachings. A set of reformed doctrines produced by the bishops of the Anglican Church described the relationship of a husband and wife, and how a wife should be submissive to her husband, and do his bidding (Doc 3). This displays a common view of the time, as families of European tended to be more patriarchal, in which the father was the head of the household and his children and wife were expected to obey him. Once again, these men were clergy members, so they most likely would have opposed gender progression in society as a whole, familial and political, as they had conservative views. Other religious individuals in addition to the clergy had their own negative opinions on the female rulers. Reformers such as John Knox detested the idea of a woman bearing rule, stating it was the “subversion of good order, of all equity and justice” (Doc 1). He gives biblical background to his argument, explicitly mentioning that the Holy Ghost has said that a woman shall not have authority over a …show more content…
However through perseverance and hard work, she managed to make the people of England love her as a queen, and left England prosperous and
His background as an archbishop set his values and ideas about things such as gender based on an interpretation of the Bible or Church teachings. A set of reformed doctrines produced by the bishops of the Anglican Church described the relationship of a husband and wife, and how a wife should be submissive to her husband, and do his bidding (Doc 3). This displays a common view of the time, as families of European tended to be more patriarchal, in which the father was the head of the household and his children and wife were expected to obey him. Once again, these men were clergy members, so they most likely would have opposed gender progression in society as a whole, familial and political, as they had conservative views. Other religious individuals in addition to the clergy had their own negative opinions on the female rulers. Reformers such as John Knox detested the idea of a woman bearing rule, stating it was the “subversion of good order, of all equity and justice” (Doc 1). He gives biblical background to his argument, explicitly mentioning that the Holy Ghost has said that a woman shall not have authority over a …show more content…
However through perseverance and hard work, she managed to make the people of England love her as a queen, and left England prosperous and