Duties Of Medieval Women During The Middle Ages

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As with much of Western history, women were considered inferior to men and their duties were mainly restricted to their home and family life during middle ages (Newman, 2015). Women were also valued as a weaker vessel that was not intellectual and unable to fulfill the strenuous task that come with being a man (Newman, 2015). While men were busy with their respective jobs women, uphold the home front and the family. Moreover, poorer medieval families lived mostly in small quarters without much work availability. These small dormitories made it highly necessary for the women to keep the area tidy and clean to ensure adequate living standards within their limitations (Newman, 2015). Conversely, women with wealth usually had several servants to …show more content…
As a matter of fact, it was normal for peasant women to help her father and husband with their task. These tasks included brewing beer or wine, doing agriculture work on the land, and keeping up with the herd (Newman, 2015). Likewise, women were given such task of spinning, weaving, and embroidery to make sure that work near or in their home to avoid neglecting other duties (Newman, 2015). Not to mention, women in the middle ages were given permission to commit themselves to the church (Newman, 2015). However, the Council of Epaon of 517 impede them from positions of leadership like priesthood or becoming deaconesses and Bishops but they were afforded the opportunity to become church nuns or sisters (Newman, 2015). Women’s commitment to the church means that they are married to the church, therefore, they will not be allowed to marry or have children Newman, 2015). Despite, the confinement of a women’s restrictive duty to the church, this gave women a scholastic advantage that was a rarity even among the upper class (Newman, 2015). The role of the Abbess was the main commanding role of women in the middle ages that was referred to as Mother Superior. Mother Superior officiates over the sister and had held particular influences in the surrounding area of the convent as well (Newman, 2015). There is no doubt that role of the women in medieval was met …show more content…
In the latter part of the Middle Ages, a profession of the midwifery began (Newman, 2015). The ideology behind this position was the experience women started to help the fewer experienced women with childbirth that later developed into a science of its own (Newman, 2015). The establishment of this trade minimizes women and infants death during childbirth. Conversely, there are a small number of cases in the medieval times where women became prominent writers and artists in a profession that was mostly exclusive to men (Newman, 2015). Moreover, the artist presented a portrayal of women protecting a town from hunting attack or even commanding men we a rarity in the Middle Ages (Newman, 2015). Although some women were given the opportunity to improve their standard of living through education, religion, and other valid occupations, a significant number of women did inquire prostitution as an occupation throughout the Middle Ages (Newman, 2015. Furthermore, the increasing demand for prostitutes grew from the formulation of urban centers and towns (Newman, 2015). To curve laws were created to confine prostitution to brothels and inside the walls of the city (Newman, 2015). As a result of continuous prostitution, The Roman Catholic Church, which is one of the most authoritative institutions in medieval society, announce the

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