The Womens Place in Medieval Society - 505 Words

Life in the medieval society was one of the most painful for women. It was evident by the high level of exploitation and oppression of women. At a time when wealthy men enjoyed stylish life, women had very hard times. Comfort was not a privilege but a luxury that only few women could afford. Men completely dominated the society and any concrete decision to be made was their preserve (Spielvogel 179). Women were not consulted even in matters that directly affected their lives; they had little or no say in the decision making process. A Woman’s role was dictated by men. For instance, village women were expected to cook for the family and take good care of their husbands. A woman’s place was the kitchen and nothing more. Oppression was†¦show more content†¦This was a job that was highly demanding but poorly paid. Men set highly oppressive laws, which greatly restricted freedom of women. For example, no business premise could be owned by a woman without approval by a council of men (Spielvogel 180). Also, a woman could only marry with the consent of her parents and she could not inherit land particularly if they had surviving brothers. Most girls as young as ten years were viewed as adults and they were married off to rich men without their consent. Despite their tender age, they were expected to bear children for the husband. Physiologically and psychologically the young girls were not prepared. This made childbirth a dangerous process. It was estimated that 20% of girls giving birth died during childbirth (Bitel 3). As the medieval period waned in the later fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the economy entered a cruel loop. Hunger and persistent incapacitating diseases reduced the laborers productivity. So the grain output reduced causing grain prices to increase. This lead to a significant drop in the standards of living; diets grew more limited. In mitigation, Governments of many states started birth control and as a result, women were relieved of unnecessary pregnancy. However, in endeavors of boosting production, the number of women forced to work increased relatively. This period also saw the inception of popular uprising against unpleasantShow MoreRelatedEssay on Jewish Women in Medieval Ashkenaz1547 Words   |  7 Pages Medieval Jewish society, like all traditional Jewish culture, was run by patriarchal hierarchy â€Å"Philosophical, medical, and religious views of the time all supported the view that men were superior to women both in nature and in deed† . Women’s position in society was secondary in comparison to that of men. They were characterized as lightheaded, weak, easily seduced, and linked to sorcery. 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