women … By today’s standards, the treatment of women during the Elizabethan era was barbaric; they had to face strict regulations, were not allowed any political rights, and were expected to fulfill the role of an obedient housewife or they would be ostracized by society. “Swinging London,” a term used to describe the flourishing fashion and cultural scene of London in the 1960s, influenced women’s dress and style in America during the same period. To achieve them, women used plant (like madder, an Asian plant with red roots) and animal dyes (such as cochineal, a beetle) on the cheeks. Education, politics, marriage, dress, and social status were all things that posed a challenge to women. First, it’s important to realize that although the Elizabethan society treated women poorly, it was better than any other time prior to it. Finally, as we examine the life of Elizabethan women, one of the biggest hardships these women were forced to endure, is something that people today see as filled with love and happiness today—marriage. All throughout their life, the women of the Elizabethan times were made to become dependent on a male relative – father, brother, uncle, husband, or other. and find homework help for other Elizabethan Drama questions at eNotes Rowse wrote, “There was a higher level of literacy among women [in the Elizabethan period] than at any other time until the later nineteenth century” (Rowse, 1951.) High officials in Madrid, Paris and Rome sought to kill Elizabeth, a Protestant, and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots, a Catholic. People in the Elizabethan era demonstrated the heavy sexism during that period in …show more content… Needless to say, the life of a woman in the Elizabethan era was bleak. Women were inferior to men. In several instances, single women were actually “thought to be witches by their neighbors” (Alchin). By today’s standards, the treatment of women during the Elizabethan era was barbaric; they had to face strict regulations, were not allowed any political rights, and were expected to fulfill the role of an obedient housewife or they would be ostracized by society. The life of women in Tudor society was scrupulously controlled – from the way they dressed, their education and what they did in their spare time. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The clothing just made people jealous. They also reddened their cheeks with a mixture of egg white and ochres. Even though this was a time where a woman was in the highest seat of power, this was not the case for the average woman during the patriarchal society’s era. For Elizabethan era women of noble birth, education included knowledge of several languages, including Latin, Greek, Italian, and French. The fashion excesses of the Elizabethan era dwarf even the most outrageous walkways in Milan today. Fashion in the Elizabethan era saw women wearing a number of different layers. The etiquette of women was as a proper lady should be. Although Elizabeth had power, life was different for most women at the time. The Role of Elizabethan Women in Marriage Elizabethan women were expected to bring a dowry to the marriage. Shakespeare in Love, the award-winning masterpiece starring Joseph Fiennes as the Bard and Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow as his lady love, is perhaps one of the best depictions of the life and roles of Elizabethan era women. In England, ruffs were usually about eight inches wide and were open in front. The edges of the skirt could be adorned with jewelled borders. Marriages were arranged and were treated like a business transaction -- the women had to bring a dowry, things such as money, goods and property, to the marriage. they had to stay home. While a man went out to work, a woman at that time was only expected to keep the hearth – to stay at home and manage the household duties in the family. In Elizabethan times women belonged to their fathers (or their brothers if their father died), and then to their husbands. Gender roles during the Elizabethan era were clearly defined, with men reigning superior over women. It was a male dominated society. Otherwise, they had to stay home and learn to run the household. The Elizabethan diet lacked Vitamin C resulting in bad teeth and bleeding gums. Even under the two female rulers of the Tudor era, not much changed, but perhaps Queen Elizabeth I of England’s reign (1558-1603) can be assessed as the birth of the first British feminist icon. women didn’t have the same right as opposed to now. The Elizabethan Age was also an age of plots and conspiracies, frequently political in nature, and often involving the highest levels of Elizabethan society. Additionally, women were not allowed to enter into professional jobs such as law or medicine, but instead they were able to read and write books, as long as they were considered appropriate. After marriage Elizabethan women were expected to run the households and provide children. Queen Elizabeth I, wanting to keep a pure, innocent appearance, wore very white makeup that resulted in a thick, heavily made-up appearance. Get an answer for 'Please give 12 facts about the role of Elizabethan women.' Although Queen Elizabeth I was in control during the Elizabethan era, lower class women were limited under strict regulations, had no legal nor political rights, and were expected to be dutiful housewives. Women were seen as property of men and had to to what they say. The sleeves are actually pieces of fabric that are held together with jewelry fasteners. According to one source, “in the Elizabethan age, upwards of 80% of all books were purchased for and read by women” (“Elizabethan Women” 1). The women's role in Elizabethan times depended on their age and marital status, but the men’s roles at the time depended on social position or occupation. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Although it was extreme, it did make her appear pale and hide her smallpox … Continue reading "Elizabethan Beauty and Skin Care" Overall, the Elizabethan era saw great change and advancement for most people, but women were still treated poorly. Otherwise, they had to stay home and learn to run the household. None other queen in the English History had such a great impact on beauty as she did. More Info On- England Fashion During Elizabethan Age, Outfits and Cothing Fashion, Elizabethan Hairstyles. From birth, Elizabethan era women were taught how to govern a household and perform domestic duties so that when they married, which was expected of them regardless of their class and ancestry, their husbands would be proud. During the time, the mortality rate among infants and children were high, so even though the women gave birth often, families were not always large in number. Each piece was carefully designed and styled to cover every part of a woman’s body. Queen Elizabeth was highly revered and somewhat feared by those beneath her; however, this was not a glorious time for most women because they were looked down upon and faced oppression from the men of the society. In the case of Gwyneth Paltrow’s character, Viola, it was her father who promised her to an aristocratic family, without asking her whether the marriage suited her. All the snazzy dressers would go to parties and would not be able to move because the … While in school, women were taught domestic skills that would be advantageous for her role as a housewife, like sewing. It was considered emasculating for men to read anything other than books on law, medicine, or tithes, so, in the Elizabethan age, upwards of 80% of all books were purchased for and read by women. Scholars study records like wills and court depositions to count signatures and other bits of writing by individuals. Men really had such great influence over women. In her book “Elizabeth the Queen”, Alison Weir describes the 25 year old Elizabeth as: “tall and slender, with a tiny waist, small bosom and beautiful, long-fingered hands, which it pleased her vanity to display to advantage in a variety of affected poses. The Elizabethan era, commonly referred to as the “Golden Age”, was a time where Queen Elizabeth I reigned supreme and the society underwent various developmental changes. She was a guiding portrait of beauty. A fashionable Elizabethan woman’s wardrobe was complex. Women’s Fashion: Women wore extravagant clothing in order to express their status in society. The appearance of a noble Elizabethan woman was important. Shakespeare wrote of women who were strong-willed and rebellious against social norms of the time. If it wasn’t for Shakespeare’s innovative portrayal of Elizabethan women and the Queen’s extraordinary reign, society’s outlook on these women might not be what it is today. Women were also expected to understand that they were to be completely subservient to their controlling husbands. Hallmarks of Elizabethan Fashion for Women. Talk about grandiose and not to mention heavy. ( Log Out /  Queen Elizabeth was entirely against this mindset and because she didn’t want to be under a man’s authority, she instead ruled for 45 years unmarried and independently. List of clothing women would wear during Elizabethan era. Constant child bearing and pregnancies took its toll on a woman's body. There were laws in place during the Elizabethan era that allowed for husbands to beat their wives and their children. Wow, that is a lot of clothes! before their marriage, women were owned by the their father. For single women at the time, the nunnery was a place suggested. An Elizabethan woman aged quickly during this era. While noble women often had house servants to help with the chores and welfare of their families, poorer women did it single-handed until their female children were old enough to help. even, their father choose husband for them. ( Log Out /  The women of the Elizabethan era were given education only if they were members of the nobility. Even religion dictated the fate of women, as obedience of a woman to a man was greatly emphasized. Wealthy and noble Elizabethan women sometimes received an education, but poor women did not. These patriarchal ideals are heavily noted in The Tempest, especially with the appearance of the single female character, Miranda. The women who belonged to the upper class wore a knee-length or full-length chemise. If I had to wear that many pieces of clothing, it would take me half the day to get dressed and the other half to get undressed. Up until the 1500’s, women were not even allowed to have an education; however, during the Elizabethan era, women were only allowed a general education from grammar schools or from private tutors— they were not permitted to enter into universities. ( Log Out /  Furthermore, women of the Elizabethan era had virtually no legal nor political rights. © 2021 Elizabethan Era. Elizabethan Era: Women The Elizabethan era was a time all of us women today should be grateful we did not see. Before marriage, women were under the ownership of their fathers and depended on them financially until they found a husband (they had little say on who they would marry). The only way a women was able to obtain any kind of political power was through the royal crown, as long as it was passed on to them; much like Queen Elizabeth I, who was in a line of succession.