New
New
Year 9

The role of women in the early modern period

I can describe the ways in which early modern Britain was a patriarchal society.

New
New
Year 9

The role of women in the early modern period

I can describe the ways in which early modern Britain was a patriarchal society.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Reformation did not have a significant impact on attitudes towards women.
  2. Early modern Britain remained a patriarchal society.
  3. Work for the majority of women centred on the home and was combined with childcare.
  4. Opportunities for women to receive an education were limited and linked to social class.
  5. Husbands in the early modern period had a huge amount of power over their wives.

Keywords

  • Patriarchal - patriarchal relates to a society that is controlled by men

  • Aristocratic - aristocratic refers to a powerful and wealthy group in society who own land and have titles

Common misconception

The existence of female rulers like Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots, meant that women in early modern Britain had significantly more power than in the medieval period.

It was extremely rare for women to wield power during this period. Early modern Britain was a patriarchal society in which society was controlled by men and the vast majority of women were excluded from all positions of power and influence.

Ask pupils to compare and contrast the role of women in the early modern period and the medieval period and to discuss the amount of change and continuity. Pupils could be asked to stand on an opinion line ('Significant change' to 'No change') and justify their positions.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
  • Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Priests oversaw the most important moments in people’s lives, such as .
Correct Answer: baptisms, marriages, funerals
Q2.
The Church had power and influence over the law courts, land ownership and .
Correct Answer: taxation, taxes, tax
Q3.
Which statement best describes the power dynamic between men and women in medieval England?
Correct answer: Men had more power, control and opportunities than women.
Women had more power, control and opportunities than men.
Men and women had equal power, control and opportunities.
Q4.
Medieval women's lives were centred on the {{ }.
Correct Answer: home, Home
Q5.
In medieval towns, the guild system was often used to exclude women from .
inheritance
Correct answer: crafts
land ownership
Correct answer: trades
marriage
Q6.
Becoming a was one of the few ways in which women could receive an education in medieval England.
Correct Answer: nun, Nun

6 Questions

Q1.
Which statement best describes Catholic and Protestant views on women?
Correct answer: Both believed women were weaker than men and needed to be controlled by them.
Catholics believed women were weaker than men but Protestants didn't.
Protestants believed women were weaker than men but Catholics didn't.
Both believed that men and women were equal.
Q2.
Which position of responsibility could a woman hold in early modern England?
Correct answer: churchwarden
mayor
Member of Parliament
priest
Q3.
The only professional role a woman could act in officially was that of a licensed .
Correct Answer: surgeon, Surgeon
Q4.
Which statement best describes changes to education in the early modern period?
Educational opportunities improved for both boys and girls.
Correct answer: Educational opportunities improved much more for boys than for girls.
Educational opportunities improved much more for girls than for boys.
Educational opportunities improved for both neither boys or girls.
Q5.
Aristocratic girls did not attend school, but they did receive an education from a private...
Correct Answer: tutor, Tutor
Q6.
Which of these were early modern women not allowed to do without their husband's permission?
Correct answer: divorce
Correct answer: sign a contract
buy goods
Correct answer: own property
Correct answer: make a will

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