- Women had more rights and social status compared to the Medieval period.
- They could own and inherit property, engage in trade, and make legal contracts.
- Women were respected for their domestic and maternal roles.
- Some Anglo-Saxon women achieved positions of power and influence, such as ruling as queens or abbesses.
- However, women were still subordinate to men and faced limitations in their roles and opportunities.
Medieval Period (1066-1485)
- Women's rights and status declined significantly compared to the Anglo-Saxon period.
- The influence of the Church and feudalism reinforced patriarchal structures and gender roles.
- Women were increasingly marginalized and excluded from public life, education, and positions of authority.
- The concept of "coverdure" emerged, which legally merged a woman's identity with her husband's, limiting her legal and economic autonomy.
- Women were often viewed as inferior to men and subject to male control and domination.
- However, some medieval women found opportunities for power and influence through religious institutions, such as becoming abbesses or nuns, or through noble families and royal patronage.