Throughout A Midwife’s Tale, it is evident that gender is a recurring theme. During the 18th century, there was a distinct difference between men and women and their roles in society, as proven by Martha Ballard’s diary. Some events in her diary that involved the issue of gender include her job and everyday life, the rape case, and her confrontation with male doctors. There are many similarities and differences between men and women during this time in Hallowell, Maine, but the main thing that seems to be true is that men belong on the outside while women belong inside the house. Gender is a major theme in A Midwife's Tale because Martha Ballard showcases how she conformed and challenged the gender roles of what it is like to be a woman in
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Women were considered to be the homemakers while the men would be the breadwinners. For example, many of the men in Martha’s life were either well educated with high standing jobs, such as her uncle and brother, or physical laborers like her husband Ephraim. Many women were mothers and did house work for the majority of the day. Martha Ballard both confirmed and challenged these stereotypical roles. She was a mother of nine children and took care of her house, which is extremely common for women at this time. Numerous times in her diary Martha mentions, “I have been at home.” Martha also took on many jobs outside of the house and received money for her actions. It was mentioned that, “Between August 3 and 24, 1787, she performed four deliveries, answered one obstetrical false alarm, made sixteen medical calls, prepared three bodies for burial, dispensed pills to one neighbor, harvested and prepared herbs for another, and doctored her own husband’s sore throat.” According to history, this was very unusual for …show more content…
Men belonged to the public sphere, which consisted of a group of people who come together in public places to talk about different ideas, issues, and political stances. According to Martha, her husband was constantly out in the public sphere, “Mr. Ballard gone to Mr. James Pages on public business.” Women belonged to the private sphere, which consisted of a group of people who come together in the privacy of homes. Martha had mentioned in her diary that, “Mr. Ballard gone to Mr. Carrs on public business. I have been home. My girls washt.” This quote specifically shows how while Martha’s husband was out, her and her girls would stay home and do housework. It is also mentioned by Ulrich that, “Public business belonged to men, housework to women.” Martha’s weaving business is a great example of challenging the ideas of women in the private sphere and men in the public sphere. Martha would have her female neighbors over her house to weave clothing, which can be considered a private sphere because the interactions occur within the privacy of her own home. When the clothing is finished, Martha trades it with people outside of her home, which can be considered to be part of the public
Women were considered to be the homemakers while the men would be the breadwinners. For example, many of the men in Martha’s life were either well educated with high standing jobs, such as her uncle and brother, or physical laborers like her husband Ephraim. Many women were mothers and did house work for the majority of the day. Martha Ballard both confirmed and challenged these stereotypical roles. She was a mother of nine children and took care of her house, which is extremely common for women at this time. Numerous times in her diary Martha mentions, “I have been at home.” Martha also took on many jobs outside of the house and received money for her actions. It was mentioned that, “Between August 3 and 24, 1787, she performed four deliveries, answered one obstetrical false alarm, made sixteen medical calls, prepared three bodies for burial, dispensed pills to one neighbor, harvested and prepared herbs for another, and doctored her own husband’s sore throat.” According to history, this was very unusual for …show more content…
Men belonged to the public sphere, which consisted of a group of people who come together in public places to talk about different ideas, issues, and political stances. According to Martha, her husband was constantly out in the public sphere, “Mr. Ballard gone to Mr. James Pages on public business.” Women belonged to the private sphere, which consisted of a group of people who come together in the privacy of homes. Martha had mentioned in her diary that, “Mr. Ballard gone to Mr. Carrs on public business. I have been home. My girls washt.” This quote specifically shows how while Martha’s husband was out, her and her girls would stay home and do housework. It is also mentioned by Ulrich that, “Public business belonged to men, housework to women.” Martha’s weaving business is a great example of challenging the ideas of women in the private sphere and men in the public sphere. Martha would have her female neighbors over her house to weave clothing, which can be considered a private sphere because the interactions occur within the privacy of her own home. When the clothing is finished, Martha trades it with people outside of her home, which can be considered to be part of the public