American History: family life and society in the 17th century?

Question

How did the numbers and condition of women affect family life and society in New England, among southern whites, and among African-American slaves?

I am totally stuck on that one. I'd appreciate any help please. =]

Answer 1

i do know that a common practice then was when an area was first settled the men would go alone and set up the home, clear the land, etc, and then they would bring the women, the women would then do sewing, cleaning, taking care of children, but a lot of other phyiscal labors like butchering of the animals. Also, common in New England is that since there werent many women around that many men had "relations with native americans and that caused a mixing in the races, that definately an affect on society. The slaves in the south ofcourse had to work in the fields but they also keep personal gardens at their slave quarters in order to eat from.