Were the women in the New France privileged Essay Example

C. 2006 45).

In New France, women were overworked like in any other society, but they were given some recognition for their important roles. Unlike in many other places, women in New France were respected for their contributions to raising families, educating children, and their overall impact on society. However, they still faced ridicule and other negative aspects of society.

In terms of privilege, the female members of this society were not in a desirable situation (Stasilulis, D and Niva, D. 1995 103). Regarding their reproductive roles, women were viewed as machines for producing babies and were expected to give birth from a young age until menopause. They were also expected to give birth every two years, while also taking care of these large families, which could have as many as twelve children in one nuclear family.

While men were away on other duties, women were expected to assume their roles. This created a difficult situation for women as they had to balance their various responsibilities, both as mothers and as substitute fathers. This task was incredibly demanding and drained their energy, leaving them exploited by the very society they were caring for. (Stasilulis, D and Niva, D. 1995 123)

Despite potentially having a relatively favorable position compared to other women of the time, it would be inaccurate to label women in New France as universally privileged. They were weighed down by extensive labor that left them drained on a daily basis, and they had to tackle each task with unwavering enthusiasm day after day. The sole advantage they experienced was the respect bestowed upon them for their societal role. This

perspective holds particular significance when contemplating how outsiders view their circumstances.

In Aboriginal societies, women had significant roles in both the family and the aboriginal government. They also played vital parts in religious ceremonies. It is essential to acknowledge that despite negative portrayals, women held integral positions within this society. Numerous clans were matriarchal, with women serving as leaders—a rarity to find societies where women were granted such privileges in leadership.

Kelm, M and Townsend, L. (2006 34) claim that women in Aboriginal society were held in high regard, similar to the women in New France society. Like men, they had personal autonomy and actively participated in community activities. Additionally, they had domestic duties like other societies and played crucial roles in childbirth and caring for their families. Furthermore, they were responsible for the early socialization of children.

Within society, husbands were obligated to honor their wives and acknowledge their wisdom in managing the community. This respect was demonstrated through the act of presenting gifts that were believed to originate from the creator. These instances demonstrate that women held a substantial role in society, potentially even surpassing their counterparts in New French society, where women were not viewed as essential. Over time, women had made progress compared to previous eras by the 1800s.

Women were increasingly participating in wars like men, making progress towards independence and recognition. Compared to previous generations, women now held a superior position and actively engaged in traditionally male-dominated roles. Additionally, they were gaining more authority and being enlisted to fight in wars. Although not assigned the same responsibilities as men, it was clear that a time

would come when women would have complete freedom to compete equally with men.

Work Cited Light, B and Prentice, A. Pioneer and Gentlewomen of British of British North America, New Hog town Press (1980) Kelm, M and Townsend, L. In the Days of Our Grandmothers, University of Toronto Press (2006) Stasilulis, D and Niva, D. Unsettling Settlers Society, Sage (1995) Podruchny, C. Making the Voyager World, University of Nebraska.

The tensions between elites and reformers in British North America between 1837 and 1838 were primarily politically motivated, leading to the Rebellion of 1837. This period witnessed armed struggles occurring in both lower and Upper Canada due to similar factors such as politics, economy, and society. While politics played a major role, economics and social issues also contributed to the outbreak of armed conflict. The conflict arose from the constitution dispensation, as the act of 1791 granted excessive power to the executive branch, establishing a centralized authority that was beyond legislative control.

Each province had its own legislative body, but their power to pass laws was restricted as the approval of the crown was required. This limitation on the assembly's influence led to rebellion, as certain elites who benefited from the existing political system wanted to maintain the status quo. The executive council, appointed by the crown, operated separately from the assembly.

However, there were also individuals who believed that the system was both regressive and oppressive, calling for significant changes (Mc Nairn, 2004 87). In both regions, governance was controlled by the crown, resulting in disconnect between the majority and the government. The prevailing sentiment was that the rulers did

not truly represent the desires of the people. In Upper Canada, this ruling class was referred to as the Family Compact, while in the lower region it was called the Chateau Clique. Typically, these ruling elites consisted of wealthy individuals in both colonies.

During this era, people chose to marry within their own group and share the same religious beliefs. They also provided political support to each other. As a result, many individuals felt disconnected from those in power and became dissatisfied with the current system. Eventually, they rebelled as a way to express their dissatisfaction with the prevailing political situation (Deconde, A 1978 138). Religion also had a major influence on shaping the state's affairs during this period.

Religion played a role in the rebellion in Upper Canada, as the close connection between the Family Compact and the Church of England unsettled those who disagreed with its beliefs. Despite having limited support in the area, the church's affiliation with the ruling class influenced their actions.

The distribution of land to the Anglican Church was seen by some as an unfair practice by the ruling class to gain support from certain groups, causing dissatisfaction among various religious sects. This led to anger particularly among Methodists, who viewed it as favoritism. Furthermore, there was disagreement regarding which Protestant denomination should be in charge of managing the school.

The ruling elites were believed to be more interested in consolidating their power and wealth rather than working for the colony's population. This made it inappropriate to entrust them with managing schools as they did not genuinely care about the public's welfare. As a result,

church-operated schools emerged as an alternative idea. However, this faced obstacles because some churches benefited from the existing political system, causing disagreements among them on this matter.

Ethnic tensions also contributed to the rebellion in Upper Canada. The elites in this region questioned whether property ownership should be extended to former United States citizens, viewing them as aliens. This issue, although primarily an economic one, was driven by the elites' selfish motive to deny power and property rights to those they saw as a threat to their own interests.

In Lower Canada, the presence of race became a significant matter due to the control of French-speaking individuals in the assembly and primarily English-speaking members in the government's executive branch. Consequently, this led to a clash between two nations within one state. The linguistic partitions were more observable in Lower Canada, as the mostly Catholic French-speaking population felt that their predominantly Protestant English-speaking counterparts aimed to disrupt their way of life.

The French immigrant community strongly disapproved of the influx of immigrants from different regions who did not speak French. The arrival of these immigrants, along with diseases, caused a riot. Animosity between the groups grew due to mistrust and religious differences, leading to tension. This hostility eventually resulted in a conflict directly associated with the rebellion of 1837-1838.

The conflict was sparked by economic reasons as well. The ruling class had marginalized the masses, leaving them feeling excluded from economic empowerment. When a group of people is excluded and not given opportunities for economic advancement, they are likely to take action. This is what occurred in British North America, where the

exploited and impoverished masses rebelled against the system in order to have their voices heard (Burrough, P 1969 128).

The rebellion in this area was not solely motivated by political factors; other reasons also contributed to its occurrence. Just like any other uprising, this conflict took varied forms and the outcome was uncertain. As mentioned before, religion played a role, but when one religion was favored over the others, it created resentment among the majority. This resentment, combined with other non-religious factors, intensified the rebellion.

The misgivings observed within the colony were attributed to ethnic tensions. Both groups in the colony had their own reasons for disliking each other, with competition intensifying the conflict. The rebellion, which had economic implications, can be seen as a multi-faceted conflict that addressed various societal issues, with politics being just one factor among many that contributed to it.