Connections

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

18th Century


The roles of women changed greatly during the enlightenment.  According to sparknotes.com,  ”The Enlightenment was a sprawling intellectual, philosophical, cultural, and social movement that spread through England, France, Germany, and other parts of Europe during the 1700s.”  At that time, the opportunity for education expanded but decreased in quality.  During the enlightenment, education was shown to be very important.  Women in the high and middle class were offered an education, but it definitely was not as high of an education as a man.  Enlightenment thinkers believed that Science and Philosophy were for men.  So women were given training in areas that were going to help their husbands and families. Things like music, drawing, singing and painting were taught to the women.  Women began working as productive laborers with the family around the age of six or seven.  Most of the time, that meant working light farm labor, in agricultural areas. If the family lived in an urban setting, women could find low-level, low-wage jobs in many industries.  This kind of work, for both men and women, was harsh, cruel and paid less than most jobs.  In general, women's lives were oriented around the running of the household rather than the entire family.  The women's marriage and children were put behind the household. 

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