Women in Middle Age Europe
The Rights and Education of Women
During the Middle Ages, the thoughts of the most influential thinkers of that time were that women did not have souls. They could not improve their situation, nor go against it. In Court life, the Age of Chivarly is known for it's improving men's attitude toward women. A strict code of honor prevailed during the time and the prominent in a knight's ideal is to honor and cherish women. Although chivalrous games elevated women to the role of Lady and Dame, women still were not given a surplus of rights.
A women's education was based on the practical rather than the academic. In the case of noblitity, the girl was sent to another nobles house to learn to learn to become wives and mothers. If women wished for a higher education, she would have to join a nunnery. Few women ever learned to read.
Clothing
Starting with the Middle Ages, clothing, a job dominated by women, fell into the hands of men. The introduction of the tailor, gave the fashion industry over to men. Many of the clothes worn had a distinct Byzantine influence, like costumes in the east, but fell behind by about 25 to 30 years. But by the late Middle Ages, Western Europe had developed it's own unique style of clothing. One major introduction from the east, during the crusades, was the use of buttons to fasten clothes.
Fashion was not a consideration. Dress served the functional puropse of protection against bad weather. Until the 14th century, men and women of all classes wore similar attire. The body was completley covered at all times, and people would layer clothing for warmth. The choice of fabric, distinguished the social rank. Richer people would wear ermine or mink, poorer people would wear sheepskin and rabbit fur.
