Puritan and quaker women
The Puritans and the Quakers are two religious groups that played an important role in the colonization of America. Both of the groups disliked the Church of England and sought to gain freedom of lifestyle and worship. Due to this, the Puritans and Quakers left England and came to America with the hope and goal to practice their desired religion freely, live the life they wanted, and ultimately gain more opportunity. During the 17th century, the roles, rights and overall lifestyles of Puritan women and Quaker women differed in several regards, and though both groups were in search of a more tolerant environment in which to live their life, it was clear that Quaker women had more opportunity and freedom than that of the Puritan women.
The Quakers have always treated men and women as equals and were pioneers in the movement for female equality. Women were important figures in early Quaker history. Quaker women had far more power within their denomination than any other group of Christian women. They were also one of the first churches to allow women to hold leadership positions. Women traveled widely through Europe, North America and the Caribbean to practice ministry. They were also strongly encouraged to get an education.[1]
The Quaker acceptance of public ministry by women was one of the most distinguishing features of the early movement. They spoke prominently at meetings and to the Quakers, a woman in a public ministry role was the fulfillment of God’s Will as opposed to the disobedience of the divine directive. They believed that ministers “were called and served by the ability God gave them, that women were equally eligible to serve in the ministry”. Yet equality was not complete. After 1660, Quakers shared the assumptions that most of the world did in that men would have more power than women. Thus leading the men to handle matters such as property and finance. [2]
In contrast, the Puritans held traditional beliefs about male and female roles. The women in puritan society fulfilled a number of different roles but only men could be elected as community leaders and ministers. Women took on roles such as acting as farmhands and tending to their vegetable gardens. As wives, they were also responsible for caring for their husbands; and as mothers, they were liable for producing and guiding the next generation of Puritan children.
In addition, although their legal rights were limited, some Puritan women were able to become the breadwinners of their families through the sale of the goods that they produced or animals that they raised. But, by far the most important role for a Puritan woman to take on was being a mother. Women were not allowed to vote in the general court, the legislative body that governed the early colony, and they had limited options for interacting with the government in their local communities. Additionally, women were not allowed to buy or sell land or sue in a court of law. [3]
The Puritans, like many societies in this time period, held the belief that women were culturally inferior to men. Married women were expected to follow the edicts of their husbands and were unable to interact with local government on their own. In addition to this, married women were unable to sue for divorce. Puritans had in-place a hierarchal system in which women served as secondary subjects to their husbands. Furthermore, in some extreme cases, women were even viewed as being intellectually beneath male-children. As of 1636 colonial Puritan women officially could not speak in church and had to be silent throughout the entire service.[4]
One positive aspect is that women were allowed to read scriptures in church. The Puritans believed everyone and anyone should be able to read from the books of the Bible. The Puritans stressed the role of community and family, which strengthened their religious foundations. Through cooperative labor and engaging in creative work, the individual’s worth to the community was increased. Thus a woman served a purpose under the divine plan of the English Colonies and she embodied a portion of individuality, capable of serving God and the whole community effectively.[5]
Though women played a significant role in society, it is clear that they were not given the same rights and status as men. Both religious groups sought freedom in America, yet Puritans failed to practice what they set out to achieve. Puritan women were expected to play a more traditional role and care for their family and not be involved in government whereas Quaker women were more active in the community and church. It is clear that the roles, rights and overall lifestyles of Puritan women and Quaker women differed. Though both groups were in search of a more tolerant environment, Quaker women had more opportunity and freedom than Puritan women.
[1] "The Quakers in America," Colombia University Press, accessed February 20, 2014 http://site.ebrary.com.mcc1.library.csulb.edu/lib/csulb/docDetail.action?docID=1018341
[2] "Early Quaker Women in Ministry," Cornell College, accessed February 20,2014 http://www.cornellcollege.edu/english/Blaugdone/essays/women_ministry.htm
[3] "Women's Roles in Puritan culture," American Literature, accessed February 20,2014, http://www.davidglensmith.com/wcjc/2327/slides/slides06-women.pdf
[4] "Women in Puritan Society: Roles and Rights," Education Portal, accessed February 20, 2014, http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/women-in-puritan-society-roles-rights.html#lesson
[5] "People and Ideas: The Puritans," PBS, accessed February 20,2014 http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/people/puritans.html
Bibliography:
Fetzer. “People and Ideas: The Puritans.” PBS. 20 Feb. 2014. 10/11/10.
http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/people/puritans.html
Fogle. “Women in Puritan Society: Rights and Roles.” Education Portal. 20 Feb. 2014.
2003. http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/women-in-puritan-society-roles- rights.html#lesson
Hamm, Thomas. 2003. Quakers and the World. Quakers in America. 156-157.
Hlibichuk. “Early Quaker Women in Ministry.” Cornell College. 20 Feb. 2014. 1998.
http://www.cornellcollege.edu/english/Blaugdone/essays/women_ministry.htm
Smith. “Women’s Roles in Puritan Culture.” American Literature. 20 Feb. 2014.
07/18/12. http://www.davidglensmith.com/wcjc/2327/slides/slides06-women.pdf
The Quakers have always treated men and women as equals and were pioneers in the movement for female equality. Women were important figures in early Quaker history. Quaker women had far more power within their denomination than any other group of Christian women. They were also one of the first churches to allow women to hold leadership positions. Women traveled widely through Europe, North America and the Caribbean to practice ministry. They were also strongly encouraged to get an education.[1]
The Quaker acceptance of public ministry by women was one of the most distinguishing features of the early movement. They spoke prominently at meetings and to the Quakers, a woman in a public ministry role was the fulfillment of God’s Will as opposed to the disobedience of the divine directive. They believed that ministers “were called and served by the ability God gave them, that women were equally eligible to serve in the ministry”. Yet equality was not complete. After 1660, Quakers shared the assumptions that most of the world did in that men would have more power than women. Thus leading the men to handle matters such as property and finance. [2]
In contrast, the Puritans held traditional beliefs about male and female roles. The women in puritan society fulfilled a number of different roles but only men could be elected as community leaders and ministers. Women took on roles such as acting as farmhands and tending to their vegetable gardens. As wives, they were also responsible for caring for their husbands; and as mothers, they were liable for producing and guiding the next generation of Puritan children.
In addition, although their legal rights were limited, some Puritan women were able to become the breadwinners of their families through the sale of the goods that they produced or animals that they raised. But, by far the most important role for a Puritan woman to take on was being a mother. Women were not allowed to vote in the general court, the legislative body that governed the early colony, and they had limited options for interacting with the government in their local communities. Additionally, women were not allowed to buy or sell land or sue in a court of law. [3]
The Puritans, like many societies in this time period, held the belief that women were culturally inferior to men. Married women were expected to follow the edicts of their husbands and were unable to interact with local government on their own. In addition to this, married women were unable to sue for divorce. Puritans had in-place a hierarchal system in which women served as secondary subjects to their husbands. Furthermore, in some extreme cases, women were even viewed as being intellectually beneath male-children. As of 1636 colonial Puritan women officially could not speak in church and had to be silent throughout the entire service.[4]
One positive aspect is that women were allowed to read scriptures in church. The Puritans believed everyone and anyone should be able to read from the books of the Bible. The Puritans stressed the role of community and family, which strengthened their religious foundations. Through cooperative labor and engaging in creative work, the individual’s worth to the community was increased. Thus a woman served a purpose under the divine plan of the English Colonies and she embodied a portion of individuality, capable of serving God and the whole community effectively.[5]
Though women played a significant role in society, it is clear that they were not given the same rights and status as men. Both religious groups sought freedom in America, yet Puritans failed to practice what they set out to achieve. Puritan women were expected to play a more traditional role and care for their family and not be involved in government whereas Quaker women were more active in the community and church. It is clear that the roles, rights and overall lifestyles of Puritan women and Quaker women differed. Though both groups were in search of a more tolerant environment, Quaker women had more opportunity and freedom than Puritan women.
[1] "The Quakers in America," Colombia University Press, accessed February 20, 2014 http://site.ebrary.com.mcc1.library.csulb.edu/lib/csulb/docDetail.action?docID=1018341
[2] "Early Quaker Women in Ministry," Cornell College, accessed February 20,2014 http://www.cornellcollege.edu/english/Blaugdone/essays/women_ministry.htm
[3] "Women's Roles in Puritan culture," American Literature, accessed February 20,2014, http://www.davidglensmith.com/wcjc/2327/slides/slides06-women.pdf
[4] "Women in Puritan Society: Roles and Rights," Education Portal, accessed February 20, 2014, http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/women-in-puritan-society-roles-rights.html#lesson
[5] "People and Ideas: The Puritans," PBS, accessed February 20,2014 http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/people/puritans.html
Bibliography:
Fetzer. “People and Ideas: The Puritans.” PBS. 20 Feb. 2014. 10/11/10.
http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/people/puritans.html
Fogle. “Women in Puritan Society: Rights and Roles.” Education Portal. 20 Feb. 2014.
2003. http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/women-in-puritan-society-roles- rights.html#lesson
Hamm, Thomas. 2003. Quakers and the World. Quakers in America. 156-157.
Hlibichuk. “Early Quaker Women in Ministry.” Cornell College. 20 Feb. 2014. 1998.
http://www.cornellcollege.edu/english/Blaugdone/essays/women_ministry.htm
Smith. “Women’s Roles in Puritan Culture.” American Literature. 20 Feb. 2014.
07/18/12. http://www.davidglensmith.com/wcjc/2327/slides/slides06-women.pdf