Journal 2: Tudor Women Response

I was actually somewhat surprised about how women were treated in Tudor, England. I figured that because of Queen Elizabeth I, women were treated with equal (if not more) respect. Man was I wrong! Just the fact that women were taught from birth was that they were inferior was surprising. I think that is still a problem in today's world. Although women are not treated as cruelly, there are still areas where they are still not given fair treatment. One modern day example of this is how women make 76 cents for every dollar that men make. I also thought that what small amounts of information they taught women was all that the men may have known because of the ideals at the time. However, that does not excuse how they treated way women.

I also thought that the way that the way that they went about marriage was very wrong. I was very surprised that women were required to get married at such a young age. In addition to that, most of the time it was not really their decision on whether or not they could not get married. Plus to get married against your will and hear vulgar comments made about you was completely unnecessary. I think one of the worst things that happened as a result of the marriage was child birth. By the time that they were able and about to have children, when they did; they died! If I were a woman living in England during that time, I might have left just because of all of the sexism going on.

After reading this packet, I understand why Queen Elizabeth I ruled with such an iron fist, not to mention that she was tough as nails. Although she was given the royal treatment that women received, I imagine that she (as with any female) was still viewed with as the same inferiority. I initially thought that she was a mean tyrant just because of how she may have been. I think that was just added to the already harsh treatment that was happening during that time. I think that after reading about this, I came to appreciate Queen Elizabeth I more and understand her.