1. Legal Status:
- Women were considered legal minors under the guardianship of their fathers or husbands.
- They had limited legal rights and could not own property in their own names or enter into contracts.
2. Property Rights:
- Married women had no property rights. Their property and earnings belonged to their husbands.
3. Voting Rights:
- Women were denied the right to vote in colonial elections.
4. Education:
- Access to formal education was limited for women. Only a small number of wealthy families provided their daughters with education, mainly focused on domestic skills.
5. Marriage and Family:
- Marriage was seen primarily as a legal and economic arrangement rather than a partnership based on love and companionship.
- Women had little say in choosing their husbands and were expected to obey their husbands after marriage.
- Divorce was difficult to obtain and was mainly granted for extreme cases like adultery.
6. Religious and Civic Participation:
- Women were generally excluded from leadership roles in religious and civic institutions.
- They were restricted from participating in public discussions or holding positions of authority.
Note: It’s important to recognize that the conditions and treatment of women varied among different colonies and over time. Certain colonies, such as Pennsylvania, were known for having relatively more progressive views on women’s rights compared to others. However, overall, women’s rights were significantly restricted during the 1700s.