Women in New France

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that a variety of legal, social and religious barriers restrained women in New France, particularly married women, from entering public life and pursuing careers of their own. The author points out that the husband was clearly and indisputably the head of the household. The paper relates that, according to Allen Greer and other historians, almost every woman married and became part of an economic unit that was dominated by the husband, operating under legal, religious and social sanctions.

From the Paper:

"What were the legal, social and religious barriers to a married woman in New France who wished to have a secular career of her own? How did some women escape these restraints? The women in New France lived under a legal system that accorded them few formal rights. A variety of legal, social and religious barriers restrained women, and particularly married women, from entering public life and pursuing careers of their own. The husband was clearly and indisputably the head of the household. According to Allen Greer and other historians, almost every woman married, and became part of an economic unit that was dominated by the husband, operating under legal, religious and social sanction."

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