The Woman's Renaissance
To What Extent And In What Ways Did Women Participate In The Renaissance?
Thesis: Women of a higher social and economic status had a broader range of opportunities such as reading, writing, and art, but were still expected to do household chores, while women of a lower class were bound even more strictly to their domestic responsibilities.
General Info
• Household chores came first (Cooking, cleaning, sewing, etc.)
• If a woman did not marry, she would enter a convent or live with relatives
• Women would never live alone or be economically self sufficient
• Applied to all social classes
Upper Class
• More opportunities were available, but women were still very suppressed
• Mastered multiple languages, wrote, painted etc.
• Were still expected to do chores despite having servants
• Education was available but limited
• Patronized the arts when possible
Middle/ Lower Class
• Chores/children came first
• Had to work alongside their husbands at their jobs
• Women were not allowed to be outspoken or express themselves in any way
• The only education they received was on how to be a good wife and mother
Examples
• Isabella d’Este (1474-1539) Italian renaissance woman
• Marguerite de Navarre (1492-1549) wrote poetry and ruled Spain with her brother Francis I
• Catherine de Medici (1519-1589) Major political force, patron of the arts, well educated from a young age
Topic Sentences
1. While upper class women had domestic duties, they were able to enjoy in a few limited opportunities like education and the arts.
2. The expectations for women of lower classes were primarily to serve traditional household roles, such as chores, rearing children, and often working with their husbands.
3. While upper class women had special opportunities, and lower class women had certain obligations, they both put household chores before any other luxuries or responsibilities.
Thesis: Women of a higher social and economic status had a broader range of opportunities such as reading, writing, and art, but were still expected to do household chores, while women of a lower class were bound even more strictly to their domestic responsibilities.
General Info
• Household chores came first (Cooking, cleaning, sewing, etc.)
• If a woman did not marry, she would enter a convent or live with relatives
• Women would never live alone or be economically self sufficient
• Applied to all social classes
Upper Class
• More opportunities were available, but women were still very suppressed
• Mastered multiple languages, wrote, painted etc.
• Were still expected to do chores despite having servants
• Education was available but limited
• Patronized the arts when possible
Middle/ Lower Class
• Chores/children came first
• Had to work alongside their husbands at their jobs
• Women were not allowed to be outspoken or express themselves in any way
• The only education they received was on how to be a good wife and mother
Examples
• Isabella d’Este (1474-1539) Italian renaissance woman
• Marguerite de Navarre (1492-1549) wrote poetry and ruled Spain with her brother Francis I
• Catherine de Medici (1519-1589) Major political force, patron of the arts, well educated from a young age
Topic Sentences
1. While upper class women had domestic duties, they were able to enjoy in a few limited opportunities like education and the arts.
2. The expectations for women of lower classes were primarily to serve traditional household roles, such as chores, rearing children, and often working with their husbands.
3. While upper class women had special opportunities, and lower class women had certain obligations, they both put household chores before any other luxuries or responsibilities.