The Changing roles of Women from the Revolution to the early Republic

The Changing roles of Women from the Revolution to the early Republic:“It’s hard to imagine how women made the leap into professions for which they had no role models, no invitation, and very little encouragement”

In the 1600’s women were in charge of the household, while caring her children colonial women engaged in “candle making, soap making, butter and cheese making, spinning, weaving, dyeing… shoemaking.” [1] Since fabric was in short supply cloth production was regarded as “crucial to their survival” by colonists. [2] While it seems that women during this time period were viewed as valuable their value relied largely on their amount of labor and goods they produced. Their status was hard work to maintain. In the eighteenth century, as women’s workload lessened in terms of spinning and producing items for barter, so did the respect of women as equal household providers. Although the economic power of women decreased their respect as mothers began to grow.  In the past, women were considered to be “less intelligent, less self-controlled and even a little silly” [3] and therefore not suitable to raise sons.

In the South as the Revolutionary war approached almost all household duties were performed by slaves.  “Southern white womanhood was supposed to be submissive, as well as frail and chaste.” [4]At this time it seems women had the most insignificant role. Young women were taught to prepare for marriage by parading around looking pretty and entertaining men. Young women were also encouraged to hide all intelligence for fear it repel men and they would be doomed to be alone. Fashion became impractical with tights corsets, and high heel made of wood. [5] “The late –eighteenth-century feminine ideal was fragile, fair, not particularly bright and certainly not interested in public affairs.” [6] The worth of women had changed from their household economic contribution to the way they looked.

The view of women quickly changed as resistance to the British began to grow. Women contributed by boycotting goods after British implementation of the Stamp Act, the Sugar Act, and taxing of tea. While men were fighting women reclaimed their household duties and cared for their family’s farms and businesses. A few inspiring and patriotic women broke the mold and took an aggressive stance. For example: Deborah Sampson Gannett disguised herself as a man and fought for over two years beside patriots, Molly Pritcher  loaded a canyon in place of her husband in the battle of Monmouth, and in the Battle of Fort Washington Margaret Corbin was wounded from taking the place of her dead husband. [7]Although I was joyed by the fact Congress awarded Margaret with her husband’s pension and she was buried at West Point cemetery, I am disturbed that other heroic women were not awarded the same honor, simply because they were not standing in the place of a man.

    By the nineteenth century women became focused on attaining the American Dream and wanted to obtain a better life for their children. “…they hoped to see them rise higher in the world than their parents did.” [8] Girls were educated and taught to read and write. Women fueled an industry of books and magazines. Women were also able to obtain careers as teachers and factory work. However, gender inequalities were significant in terms of wages. Although women did not have the right to vote, their lives were becoming easier. Women were having fewer children and some even choosing to remain unmarried. “Magazines urged women not to marry for money or social position, and they depicted maiden ladies positively.” [9] Women were beginning to take control of their own lives. Some women were even able to venture in philanthropy speaking, medical careers, and writers.

“It’s hard to imagine how women made the leap into professions for which they had no role models, no invitation, and very little encouragement” [10]

Although there were no drastic changes forward during this time period and quite a few setbacks, women’s roles were evolving and changing for the better.

1. Gail Collins, America's Women: 400 Years of Doll, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines (New York: Harper Perennial, 2007), 49.

 2. Ibid, 50.

 3. Ibid, 69.

 4. Ibid, 71.

 5. Ibid, 73.

 6. Ibid, 78.

 7. Ibid, 81.

 8. Ibid, 85.

 9. Ibid, 138

10. Ibid, 102