Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Domestic responsibilities were women's primary sphere: cooking, cleaning, spinning, weaving, caring for livestock, and raising children with religious and domestic education.
Connecticut was a Puritan society. Women actively participated in religious observances, supported husbands' spiritual pursuits, attended gatherings, ensured children's religious instruction, and contributed to church establishment.
Some women had access to basic education—reading, writing, arithmetic—though opportunities were less than men's. Literacy allowed reading the Bible and religious literature.
Women could not vote or hold office but organized charitable events, provided nursing care, and offered social support to other women.
Women had limited legal and property rights compared to men. They could not initiate lawsuits, enter contracts, or own property independently; rights were tied to husbands.
Economic contributions were mainly household-based: producing textiles, dairy, and other goods for family use or local trade. Some skilled women engaged in midwifery and nursing.
Social activities centered around church functions, community events, and informal gatherings with neighbors and relatives, maintaining close networks for support and knowledge sharing.
Women were expected to be submissive, modest, virtuous, respectful of husbands, and diligent in domestic duties, reinforced by religious teachings and social norms.
High mortality during childbirth, limited personal freedoms, constant household labor demands. Yet women played crucial roles in shaping the colony's social, religious, and cultural foundations.