Throughout civilizations, women have always had major roles to play. They are an important foundation to successful civilizations. From educating the next generation, to supervising manors, women in the Late Middle Ages had key roles to play. The roles of women in the Late Middle Ages varied greatly from their personal life to their professional life.
From a young age, women were taught common household skills, such as cooking, cleaning, and nursing. Girls were also taught how to properly act in public; women were not supposed to laugh loudly, swear, or express their views in public. They could not leave the house, unless they were accompanied by at least one servant. If her family was wealthy, tutors would be hired to educate the young girls; …show more content…
Some chose to be skilled in trade; for this, they would first need an apprenticeship. After their work was approved, the women could join a guild. Although, there were not many that accepted women, and the ones that did, restricted what they could do. Others worked with silk, becoming spinners or weavers. Certain women even chose to become scribes. Midwifery was also a popular high paying job. It was a job specifically for women and was high in demand. Midwives kept careful records, allowing us to learn about health in the Late Middle Ages. These midwives also acted as physicians for females. Nunnery was also common and was an alternative to marriage. The nuns could not bear any children or fill any positions of leadership except the abbess. These nunneries were home to refinement and learning. Many women gained academic knowledge here and learned to read.
The women of the upper class lived a lavish life. They did not have any chores, but hired servants to do them instead. Most aristocrats just participated in religious activities. These women had plenty of leisure time. They entertained themselves by drawing, playing music, writing poetry, and reading. They even did activities such as chess, hunting, and hawking; all three were thought to be male hobbies. Their main duty, however, was to just take care of their husband; the children were handled by a hired
From a young age, women were taught common household skills, such as cooking, cleaning, and nursing. Girls were also taught how to properly act in public; women were not supposed to laugh loudly, swear, or express their views in public. They could not leave the house, unless they were accompanied by at least one servant. If her family was wealthy, tutors would be hired to educate the young girls; …show more content…
Some chose to be skilled in trade; for this, they would first need an apprenticeship. After their work was approved, the women could join a guild. Although, there were not many that accepted women, and the ones that did, restricted what they could do. Others worked with silk, becoming spinners or weavers. Certain women even chose to become scribes. Midwifery was also a popular high paying job. It was a job specifically for women and was high in demand. Midwives kept careful records, allowing us to learn about health in the Late Middle Ages. These midwives also acted as physicians for females. Nunnery was also common and was an alternative to marriage. The nuns could not bear any children or fill any positions of leadership except the abbess. These nunneries were home to refinement and learning. Many women gained academic knowledge here and learned to read.
The women of the upper class lived a lavish life. They did not have any chores, but hired servants to do them instead. Most aristocrats just participated in religious activities. These women had plenty of leisure time. They entertained themselves by drawing, playing music, writing poetry, and reading. They even did activities such as chess, hunting, and hawking; all three were thought to be male hobbies. Their main duty, however, was to just take care of their husband; the children were handled by a hired