Treatment of Women
Puritanism did regard men and women as spiritual equals, however, women were treated harshly. This was because Puritans feared that women were much more susceptible to temptations, and that they possessed qualities that could be exploited and become sinful.Therefore, a woman was to love, obey, and further the interests and will of her husband to fulfilled her God-given duty.
Married women were not allowed to possess property, sign contracts, or conduct business because all of that belong to the husband, and therefore only widows had those rights.They had to dress modestly, covering their hair and arms. Failure to do so will have resulted in harsh punishment, such as public whippings.
The mistreatment of women in the colony would later led Anne Hutchinson to oppose the authority of the colony and later exiled to Rhode Island, where she and her supporters established a settlement for people that opposed Puritanism. This action caused Puritan influence to be limited in New England.
Married women were not allowed to possess property, sign contracts, or conduct business because all of that belong to the husband, and therefore only widows had those rights.They had to dress modestly, covering their hair and arms. Failure to do so will have resulted in harsh punishment, such as public whippings.
The mistreatment of women in the colony would later led Anne Hutchinson to oppose the authority of the colony and later exiled to Rhode Island, where she and her supporters established a settlement for people that opposed Puritanism. This action caused Puritan influence to be limited in New England.