Native American, Black, and European Women

             Women in early American society regardless of their culture faced many of the same gender roles. Native American, Black, and European women were the main keepers of the home. In spite the former occupation of African women as farmers, once slaves in America they too were molded to be in charge of the house keeping duties. Being inferior to men in a hierarchy was another gender characteristic they shared, indicating mostly men leaders. However there are exceptions to this, since Europeans did have female Queens who did rule. All three cultures also had women figures as Gods. Women did share many similar gender roles shaped by early American cultures, however there are distinct differences between how biology determined gender and the amount of power and influence that women had in the different cultures. .

             Even though European women did not have much power, they did have a major impact in the society. All of the responsibility of the home was on the women. They cleaned, cooked, and raised children, made essential home goods such as candles, cloths and soaps. They essentially ran the domicile, yet didn"t have property rights under the "Femme Covert" law that stated that her property rights were under either her husband"s or her brothers. Native American women before their total integration into the European culture did have access to property and the power of choice. Native American women could walk on their mate, if she was unsatisfied with the conditions, a behavior unthinkable to the Europeans. The Europeans viewed this behavior as promiscuous and nasty. Native American women also played an important role as "women-in-between", in which they were involved with trading, another gender role abnormal to the Europeans. Since these roles were so dissimilar eventually the European American culture displayed the gender role, which was to shape a women"s world in America.

Related Essays: