Status of Women in Colonial America

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the role of women in the colonial period of the United States and finds that although the colonial female led a comparatively better life than her English sisters she went virtually uneducated, possessed limited legal status, and was politically nonexistent.

From the Paper:

"Under English common law, married women were unable to contract or sue in tort unless they had their husbands? permission. English women had no contractual capacity because they had no proprietary capacity. Common law also dictated that a husband's interest in the personal and real property of his wife was absolute and he had an unlimited right over her possessions and chattels.[1] He also had an almost absolute authority over his wife's person. By law, a husband, as master over his wife, was permitted to restrain her in case of misbehavior, as well as "chastise" her in the ways he saw fit to correct her wrongdoing. [2] "

More papers on Status of Women in Colonial America:

• Comparison Essay # 14740 : "Women In Colonial America"
• Research Paper # 3378 : "Colonial Woman"
• Essay # 14861 : "Women and Separation From England, 1600-1825"

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