Jamestown Gender Roles Essay

Words: 670
Pages: 3
Open Document
In 1629 Virginia, a curious case arises within the General Court records of Jamestown. It is a case that offers a rare glimpse into the gender norms of colonial people and presents evidence for the difference between community roles in Europe and the New World. The cases of Thomas(ine) Hall, and the implication of gender roles and sexuality present historians with a person that is far ahead of their time, and operating within a modern regime of identity, as opposed to the ancient regime of identity that stands as the social norm of the time.
This episode reveals that gender stands as a highly important social categorization within this society. Without the presence of a traditional legal entity (such as a church or a court) the colonial community unintentionally creates an organic social structure based upon gender. For example, women are expected to dress and act in certain ways, and to perform certain jobs. They also possess a different type of authority than men do. In the case of Thomas(ine) Hall, “women’s authority derived from constructions of tradition and, more important, from their claims to interpret female bodies.” The limited say that women have during this time relies heavily upon their own interpretation of …show more content…
Perhaps this desire for control over other women’s bodies, is a response to the natural control men inherently have over women. This case reveals that colonial women are trying their hardest to seek some sort of independence form their male counterparts—even if it unknowingly by gripping onto a sexual authority that modern women may in fact find demeaning. Men are also expected to dress and act in certain ways but are also dealt a great deal more of status and power, as they can own land and choose a spouse along with having the ability to have control over a tobacco
Show More

Related Documents: Jamestown Gender Roles Essay

Essay On The Declaration Of Independence

Essay Response to Question 1 Hoainam Le Professor Seiling History 170C, MTWR – 11:15 A.M.-2:05 P.M. July 24, 2014 The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important written work of its period. However, the importance of the document lies not in the original intention for which it was created, to declare independence from Great Britain, but rather how future generations have interpreted Jefferson’s words. A speculative segment of the document, “We hold these truths to be self-evident…

Words 2114 - Pages 9

Essay on APUSH NOTES

and Grain Coast • Dual-sex Principle: both genders shared agricultural duties; men hunted and fished; women raised children, prepared food, manufactured, and traded; each sex handled own affairs (men ruled men and women ruled women); complementary male and female roles were stressed by religious beliefs • The Sande and Poro cults: young women in Guinea joined the Sande cult; young men joined the Poro cult; cults kept secrets from the other gender • Hundred Years' War: 1337-1453 time of Black…

Words 6157 - Pages 25

U.S. History I Essay examples

after Spain/Portugal yet took advantage of experience 1. Immigration spurred population growth in British colonies; Scots-Irish, Germans. Live births, sex ratio evened out in the South; population doubled. 2. Enlightenment a. John Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690). However, educated Europe & American with vocabulary and unified world view. b. Benjamin Franklin: Successful printing business retired in 1748; established basic theory of electricity still used today.…

Words 6303 - Pages 26