Gender Bias in 15th-17th Century North America

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A brief history of North America

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The late 15th to mid-17th century North America was characterized by a series of events
that has molded the culture in a manner that resonates till today. This thinking pattern has been
integrated in the societal development of the colonial America that has its impact for a prolonged
period of time. The racial and gender discrimination for instance, have been deep rooted in the
history of the place which has also affected the way people interact with each other1. Moreover,
the recorded history of that time shows a significant biasness and shows undue prejudices
towards women and on racism ground. In this essay, there will be a brief analysis on the gender
biasness that was prevalent in the 15th to 17th century North America that left an impact on the
societal values, customs and the reshaping of the generations idea about femininity.
Gender roles and its impact on the daily lives of people
The egalitarian concept that today’s generation is trying to achieve has a stark difference
in respect to the scenario that was prevalent in the middle age. In the early North American
society the groups that mainly flocked around the country were Africans, Europeans and the
Native Americans. The slavery method also hold a significant place in the history and therefore,
women too were affected for the legal statuses and laws. The female natives of the region usually
when captivated, were spared due to the reproduction capabilities whereas the male counterparts
were executed. In relation to the clothing and lifestyle of the people, the tribal women had a
different set of practices and customs. However, the elite European classes’ women had a
different idea of modesty where the nudity of the tribal people were seen as uncivilized. In this
regard, there used to be a conflict in the misunderstanding between the two cultures. However,
the general status of women were always subjugated and they had numerous restrictions in
comparison to the males. The traditional concept of the man was seen as the bread earner of the
1 Taylor, Alan. Colonial America: a very short introduction. Vol. 339. Oxford University Press, 2013.

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family and they were assumed to be the head of the family. This was the matter of common
grounds which all the cultures share. The marital grounds was also another issues where the
cultural differences arose. The Native Americans used to practice polygamy whereas the
European believed in the concepts of monogamy. The Missionaries of that time, too, tried to
spread the superiority of the European marriages and in a broader scenario the practices of
Native American’s were tried to be controlled. Therefore, a clash between groups were
inevitable that affected and thereby resulted in the reshaping of the Indians gender role.
Role of Gender in shaping the Atlantic world
The male and female both had a central part to play in the reshaping of the Atlantic
World. Earlier, no participation of women could be seen whereas a gradual change can be
noticed in the later part of the history. The Native Americans acted as the mediators between the
European and Indian societies thereby infusing cultures. Assertive women came into the
forefront and a shift in the societal pattern could be seen. Previously, the same act could have
been seen as the practicing of witchcraft and occults. The political and social powers were also
kept out from their reach and the male were only authorized to take the role. However, the
gradual sexual interactions with the people despite the differences, the failure and successes and
the overall situation prompted the restructuring of the Atlantic world2. In this respect, the
transatlantic migration of male members in the region had a great role in the lop-sided sex ratio.
The entire community experienced a downfall in respect to the gender differences and therefore,
the entry of women in the domestic service increased. With this gradual change, some women
also started looking for opportunities to leave Europe. In the 15th century, a fairly high number of
female went on a voyage to the Caribbean. Between the 16th and 17th century, a massive number
2 Taylor, Alan. Colonial America: a very short introduction. Vol. 339. Oxford University Press, 2013.