How Changes in or Conflicts over Gender Roles and/or Sexuality - Essay Example

How Changes In or Conflicts over Gender Roles and/or Sexuality Impacted Women’s Experience in Colonial North America Introduction In the ancient times, especially in the colonial times in northern America, men and women worked together in farms. The colonial America was in need of extensive labour from both men and women (Sprigs, 151). As such, all the people were required to labour diligently. Most of the people worked on farms in ensuring they were productive in the colonial America. It is evidently expressed that the workers were to ensure the household economy was functional and productive. As such, they had to work on farms to produce food, clothing and other products that would be used in the economy. It is stated that the household economy needed a wide range of goods for the sustainability of the system. With the provision of labour from men and women, the household economy was sustainable. However, the rise of industrialisation brought change in the colonial America. Therefore, the change in industrialisation and sprouting of large cities in the nineteenth and eighteen century led to division of labour while observing the gender roles (Thatcher, 173). As such, different genders were required to work on different roles. Men and women had different roles due to division of labour in respect to gender lines. In the native America, women had various gender roles that were clearly stipulated (Sprigs, 151). To begin with, women were given the responsibility of taking care of children in the society (Thatcher, 171). It is stated that women spent most of their time in their homesteads. This gave women an advantage over the male counterparts. As such, they had to take responsibility of caring for their children while at home. Women were given the responsibility of assisting other women when delivering children. Since women have the biological anatomy of bearing children, they are in a position to help other women go through delivery process. It is believed that women will have an easy time when assisting other women through the delivery process. It is stated that this is a lifetime and painful experience that needs immense assistance and care. For example, “The fifty-three deliveries Martha performed in 1793 took her along the length of the town and beyond” (Thatcher, 165). Through her work in assisting other women to deliver, Martha travelled in many parts of the town. Her dedication to help other women through the process of delivery paid off, making her visit beyond the town. It is stated that she helped many women to go through the process of delivery. These included wife of Samuel Norcross, Jeremiah Dummer and Theophilus Hamlin. Her work in assisting women to go through the process of delivery was highly in demand. As such, she also had to assist woodsmen, farmers and the society as a whole. Therefore, the scope of women’s responsibilities at this time had changed through the work initiated by Martha (Thatcher, 167). As such, women were to assist their fellow women in going through the process of delivering children. Women at this time had a hard time going through delivery. Martha states that most of the deliveries were natural. This is due to the absence of professionals to assist women in childbirth. Apparently, they were left to sort out their own issues during childbirth. Martha states that natural process of delivery was “uncomfortable and frightening” (Thatcher, 170). However, the women at this time did not have any other option but to go through the tedious process. In bizarre instances, mismanagement of the situation would occur. When such an occurrence took place, the natural childbirth could be dangerous to the women. At times, she states that some women were unattended to when they needed assistance in childbirth. These were some of the moments she felt anxious. Failing to assist women in such times was detrimental to their health as they were left to struggle in a deplorable state. With such actions, the scope of the role of women changed (Sprigs, 152). The women were to assist other women during child delivery. Men were utterly absent in such occasions. Therefore, the gender role of delivery was a responsibility of women. Elizabeth Sprigs states that in the eighteenth century, there was increasing need for labour (Sprigs, 151). Many people were building spacious mansions for human habitation. Since labour was highly needed, both white and black dependants were willing to offer labour. However, it is stated that most of the whites in the southern parts were living in better and humbler conditions when compared to other residents. It is stated that most of the farmers with minute chunks of land had to find a better way of increasing production. As such, they decided to rent land from the landowners with large chunks of land (Thatcher, 169). This approach was highly appreciated by the small-scale farmers. However, they had to make periodic payments of rent to the owners. Most of the landless women in at this time decided to work as domestic servants. For example, Sprigs was “a servant in a Maryland household” (Sprigs, 151). Consequentially, she decided to finance her passage when she needed to travel to England. As a fact, she was an indentured servant for a term. Through her story, she openly expresses the hardships and brutal treatment women had to endure while servants in homesteads. Therefore, it is evident that the scope of gender roles changed in such times. The women had a responsibility of becoming domestic servants in various homes. This was a prevalent occurrence in the seventeenth century in most parts of native America. Therefore, women had to accept such brutal treatment while working as domestic servants. In the turn of events, the eighteenth century recorded a decrease in the number of indentured servants, which was “a frequent practice in the seventeenth century” (Sprigs, 151). The scope of gender roles was changing, which brought change in the American society. As such, the women felt the need to change. Apparently, most of the men in the society decided to work in various professionals. Most of the men decided to embark on various jobs that would generate salaries and wages (Sprigs, 151). As such, they had to work in workshops, offices and the upcoming factories. This encouraged women to work in their established residences. As such, women felt the need to concentrate on the domestic work. This factor changed the scope of gender roles in the native America. The women felt that they were in a position to concentrate on the domestic jobs while men were better prepared to work in factories and offices. Consequentially, in the early nineteenth century, there was immense increase of civilization, especially in women. Many women authors, writers and lecturers decided to expose the scope of women in the society. It was stated that women were providers of a safe haven in their homes. Therefore, they had to avoid the unsafe environment that was created by men in the society. This would be avoided by concentrating on the domestic work (Thatcher, 173). Similarly, the women decided to articulate their morals and values for betterment of the society. Apparently, women were instrumental in enhancing civilization. In conclusion, the change in gender roles is an aspect that started in the seventeenth and eighteenth century in the Native American society. Women have been struggling to establish their presence in the world. Apparently, there has been immense change in the world, as explained by the female writers of that time. As such, they have a fundamental role in the society regardless of the gender roles. References Sprigs, E. (September 22, 1756). We unfortunate English people suffer here”: An English servant writes home. Retrieved from http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5796 Thatcher, U. L. (December 1973). A midwife’s tale. Retrieved from http://dohistory.org/book/100_chapter5_txt.html Read More