Women were not permitted to learn to read or write. They were thought to have smaller brains than men. They were thought to be evil by nature because of Eve. When a woman married, she was the property of her husband and subject to his will in all matters. If he died, her family could again marry her off to whomever they wish. Do you think you would have obeyed and done what was expected? Do you now? Or would you have rebelled to be who you feel you wanted to be or had to be, especially since it could have meant you'd be branded a witch or worse and be put to death. What would you have done?
2006-06-24 13:05:04 · 17 answers · asked by CleverGal 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Kerry S. - Ah, but rebelling against society WAS done by some. Some women did buck the system. Yes, they paid the price for it in many times but they felt compelled to live beyond what society told them they could or should. There was even a female Pope who disguised herself as a man.
2006-06-24 13:34:45 · update #1
I see so far only one male has ventured a response. To him I would say, you see no difference because as a male, your rights and freedoms would remain virtually intact. Imagine yourself a woman, that is the question here. Imagine not even being able to leave your house without the permission of your husband. If you were a woman living then, would your obey or rebel?
2006-06-25 02:45:49 · update #2
I'd like to think that I would rebel against such horrible treatment.
However, that's how I was raised in today's times. I think we all act according to how we are raised. If I was raised in those times, since birth, realistically speaking, I'd probably obey.
2006-06-24 13:10:05 · answer #1 · answered by Erato 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well, it would really depend on status for me. Nobler women could get learn as much as the males, but even that was rare. If i got lucky enough to be of noble blood I'd probably try to conform but pull an Eleanor of Aquitaine and try influencing and controlling situations as possible.
If I was the same as I am now then I'd probably rebel, big time. I'd definitely be branded a witch, no matter what, and probably end up hung, there were certainly enough of those in my ancestors...and the half-Gypsy thing wouldn't help either... The only good things about being in that time would probably be the big jewellery and the ease of obtaining corsets.
2006-06-25 02:35:42 · answer #2 · answered by Aingeal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am no different from a person living in those days. I am not a criminal today, for the most part, nor would I be then. Therefore, if I lived in those days, even as a woman, I would find myself obeying society's rules, more or less, only finding freedom where I could get away with it. Social pressure to conform is extremely strong, and I would have been subjected to it then as now. It's just that today, social pressure expects women to be a little rebellious, so women find themselves discouraged from being housewives even if that's what they wanted.
2006-06-24 20:49:41 · answer #3 · answered by Fenris 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you really were living in the Medieval times, you wouldn't know what lies ahead. You would play the hand you were dealt. Just like now. I mean, we do things now that probably would probably seem ridiculous to people in the future. (use toilets, physically type messages out, eat food) These may change in the future. That is the exciting thing about life, it is continuously changing (in either good or bad ways) I'd most likely be an artist or an apprentice to an artist. Since I am in the 2000s I will be grateful and thank God for not putting me during such a repressive time.
2006-06-24 20:13:00 · answer #4 · answered by tankgirl190 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most people in medieval times didn't know any better. if you were to grow up in that time period, you were expected certain things. today as americans we are spoiled into thinking we can do how we feel. rebelling against society was just not done. and women were never even thought of to have equal rights, so why would anyone rebel? it was common knowledge that society followed, such as gay marriage today. it is just not done. in the future, people will look back and realize that there is no reason two people shouldn't be happy.
2006-06-24 20:20:11 · answer #5 · answered by Kerry S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think I would have. I think I would have found a small group of like-minded, intelligent women and started a secret society. I'm sure there were even a few enlightened men who thought this was wrong and might have helped us. However, it's hard to know -- if you grew up your whole life in that environment, you might not have risked it -- just hoped for better for your daughters!
2006-06-24 23:54:50 · answer #6 · answered by conway_clement 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that you make due with whatever you have too, and this is one of those times. I would hope that I would have a husband that would allow me the luxury of reading. I would push boundaries but not necessarily break them. Being burned as a witch would hurt...so I would definitely try to avoid that.
2006-06-24 20:15:01 · answer #7 · answered by jenj23 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I probably would have been considered a witch and burned. Many women disguised themselves as men and assumed male identities in order to do the things they wanted.
2006-06-24 20:24:08 · answer #8 · answered by keri gee 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wud hav learnt ta reed and rite lik I duz now, becuzn I ain't ner hafen brained woman. But I ken durn be evil by natur ifn it is that ther time of the month, and ifn my ole man died, my family wud hafn to kill me, befer they'd make me murry anuthr cuzin. So I'm a gess'n I wud be labeled a witch and burnt at the steak!
2006-06-24 20:18:58 · answer #9 · answered by L3 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe they were right about us, I mean we are definitely more evil than men!
Just kiddin'. Actually I would have been hung as a witch, knowing myself as I do. I am a rebel today and would have been back then, for sure!!
2006-06-24 20:20:13 · answer #10 · answered by ... 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋