Women in Elizabethan England Flashcards
(10 cards)
How were women viewed in Elizabethan society?
Women were seen as less important due to restrictive legal, social, and cultural norms.
What legal restrictions did women face?
They couldn’t own property or enter contracts independently because of coverture, which merged a married woman’s identity with her husband’s.
How did inheritance laws affect women?
Inheritance laws favored men, limiting women’s economic power.
What social roles were women forced into?
Domestic roles requiring obedience to fathers and husbands.
How did religion influence women’s status?
Religious teachings reinforced women’s lower social position compared to men.
What economic opportunities did women have?
Limited to low-paying, unskilled jobs, making marriage necessary for security.
What type of education did women receive?
Limited, focused on domestic skills rather than academic knowledge.
What political rights were denied to women?
No voting, holding public office, or political debate participation.
How did culture depict women?
Often as weak and irrational, reinforcing stereotypes justifying inferior status.
Did Queen Elizabeth I face the same gender prejudices?
Yes, despite her role as monarch and head of the Church of England.
