The purpose of this essay is to describe the life and attitudes of women in colonial America. Concentrating on the two colonies, South and New England, the task is to compare the daily routine of women in the colonial family and in the family of the peoples of Native America. The role of women in early American society was extremely important due to the search for independence by the newly formed nationality.
Women in families ensured by their labor the independence of the American people from British goods and services. At the same time, they were engaged not only in the production of goods and everyday life, but could also participate in a secret confrontation against the British Empire. In particular, they were dressing up as men and joining the army and also acting as spies on British soil. Moreover, the assistance to American soldiers in the War of Independence was expressed in the provision of medical assistance and care. Considering, in addition to this, standard chores and parenting, their contribution to independent living in developing America cannot be overemphasized.
In New England, in comparison with other colonies, there was a much greater equality between the two sexes (Scheick, 2014). In particular, women were able to work as doctors and even lawyers for practical intellectual tasks. It should also be added that already in early American society, women of high society showed a desire for writing as a way of self-expression, which was not prohibited by the male class. In the case of the South, women were obliged to honor their husbands and were lower in the hierarchy, regardless of social status.
At the same time, the sensitivity of the colonialists towards Native Americans at that time was extremely low, and in particular the marginalization of the native population was felt by its female part. The social conditions of the indigenous population were already low, but in the case of women, their position was expressed as doubly disadvantaged. Thus, one can talk about a close connection between the stability of the economy and the distribution of wealth among people in America in the 18th century. Depending on the class, the social status of a woman was determined and the boundaries of her capabilities were largely associated with economic independence.
Reference
Scheick, W. J. (2014). Authority and female authorship in colonial America. University Press of Kentucky.