Gender Roles During Medieval Times

The topic that caught my attention is the gender roles during medieval times. Men and women has been treated differently since the beginning. Some of the countries up to this generation are still practicing the same role. For example, Chile. According to the article from boundless.com “A 2010 study by the United Nations Development Programmed found that 62% of Chileans are opposed to full gender equality and expressed the belief that women should limit themselves to the roles of mother and wife”. This shows that even in our generation there are still equal rights issue for both genders. Men and women roles in society is determined by their status of living. The decision where they belong to the society is determined from their bloodline, family ties, marital status and their level of education, however the gender played a huge role in every factor. During medieval period the lower classes families are in a strict gender role within their household. Men are considered to be the head of the household and the decision makers, while women were expected to be submissive to their husband. Women’s main responsibility is to be a good wife, bear and raise children, and to take care of any household works.
Men’s role during medieval times is to be the breadwinners.
They are the most important people in the family. Men had many advantages than women. Being a man is considered one of the most important member of the society. They’re being treated with respect and admiration. Although the social status for male is based on their wealth and the amount of land they owned. The poor men usually work for the richer men as a peasant. Majority of the poor men work in the land or some farming job, while the richer men often employed in the court or as a knights. A wealthy men had more rights than poor men. They have rights to choose who they will want to marry and when to have a children. They also played a big part in making regulations in the
society. Women’s role has been changed a lot since medieval times. Women this day can have a professional job such as being a doctor, teacher, lawyer or politician. Unlike before women are not being recognized, they work the same job as the men’s but getting paid less. Unmarried women usually work as a peasant or farming to help out their families. Once married their main concern and responsibility is to be a good wife, a good mother and to look after the home. The role of the wife is very important even though they don’t have much freedom. Women were expected to tend their husband needs at all times and in return men went out to work and earn money to support their family. Women did not have access to equal rights in medieval times like what we do now. In conclusion, medieval period is about masculinity. Men and women have no equal rights and even this day we are still fighting for the equal opportunity for both gender. Although female role had been evolved since medieval times, there are still some part that women are not recognized and less appreciated.