Title: Colonial Women ***
Headings: Colonial Women
Colonial Women
Colonial Women

Content: Married women had fewer rights than unmarried women or widows. Married women: Could not make a will without the explicit consent of her husband. Could not buy property
Could not make a contract
Could not sue or be sued in court


Colonial Women - the Puritans
The Puritan Colonial women were some of the first Europeans to settle in North America. The Puritans practised strictness and austerity in their religion, lifestyle and conduct and women were expected to abide by these rules. They were absolutely subservient to the men in their family. Puritan Colonial Women were expected to be strong advocates of propriety, modesty and and decorum. These principles were reflected in both their behaviour and their dress. The Puritan colonial women wore their hair long but it would have been deemed unseemly for hair to be shown. The Puritans belived that "the soul consists of two portions, inferior and superior;