THE CRUCIBLE BACKGROUND RESEARCH:

GENDER ROLES IN THE PURITAN SOCIETY

Racqual Espinoza, Will Ellfeldt, Myah Floyd, Tim Gilmore Period 3-Group 3

9/25/13

SOAPSTONE Speaker: Group 3 Occasion: To learn more

about The Crucible Audience: Students Purpose: To understand the

background of the Crucible. Subject: Gender Roles in

the Puritan Society Tone: Informative

GENDER ROLES Based on different

expectations that societies have of individuals based on their sex.

Defined according to a society’s beliefs about differences between the sexes.

Puritan women were held with heavy responsibilities.

WHY GENDER ROLES? For women, original sin

carried more weight because everyone believed all women carried Eve’s corruption.

The creation of order created a hierarchy, which placed men on top.

Authority was given to the husband over the wife.

THE FIVE COMMANDMENTS OF A WOMAN Thou shall never demonstrate rage.

Thou shall always subordinate to thy husband.

Thou shall NEVER lay a hand on thy cash.

Thou shall ALWAYS keep the house clean .

Thou will have full responsibility of the children.

THE FIVE COMMANDMENTS OF A MAN

Thou shall never treat thy wife as thy servant.

Thou shall always provide for thy family.

Thou shall always protect thy family.

Thou shall always keep thy wife in check.

Facts on Puritan Gender Roles

No other group of people was more vulnerable to the witchcraft hysteria than women.

Women were seen as inferior beings that needed to be dominated by a male figure and those who broke the mold were viewed as dangerous.

These roles illustrate the flaws with Puritans society