What were the social roles of men and women in 17th Century Europe?

[mr.swampdude]

what were social roles for men , women and children? how did each spend there day? What were the expectations for each at the time?

[?]

It would vary enormously depending on their class.

The majority of people in the 17th century were still living as peasant farmers, working small farms that they rented from the lord of the manor. They would grow enough crops for themselves and sell the surplus, and graze their animals on the common land. The farmer's wife would be responsible for the poultry and the dairy, make her own butter and cheese, and sell her surplus products at market. She would cook and preserve food (there was very little fresh food available in winter, so food preservation was an important task), she would brew the beer or ale that people drank instead of water (although there was commercial brewing, many women still made their own beer and ale at home). Spinning wool and flax into thread was another important task performed by women, though weaving at that time was generally done by commercial weavers, who were usually men.

Women were also expected to be responsible for the family's health, and to make home remedies for a wide variety of ailments. 'The English Housewife' by Gervase Markham, which was published in 1617, contains a very long chapter on how to make home remedies for an enormous variety of complaints, everything from toothache to consumption. It was evidently a major part of a woman's life.

Men who were tradesmen or craftsmen or merchants would be very busy about whatever their occupation was, and wives and children would often be involved in the family business too. children might attend elementary schools for both boys and girls, and boys might go on to attend a grammar school, where they would learn mainly Latin and Greek, with some mathematics and music. School days were very long and discipline was severe.

A husband, whatever his status in life, was expected to be a good head of the household and be good to his wife and children. A wife was expected to obey her husband, and children were expected to obey both parents and be very respectful towards them. They were also expected to be religious. In 'The English Housewife' (1615), Gervase Markham writes:

'First then to speak of the inward virtues of her mind: she ought, above all things, to be of an upright and sincere religion, and in the same both zealous and constant, giving by her example an encitement and spur untoall her family to pursue the same steps."