During the colonial era, there were very strict gender roles that men and women were expected to follow. These rules and laws were different from colony to colony, but for the most part they were the same. Women primarily focused on housework, knitting, light gardening, and teaching children the scriptures (it is important to know that this is aimed at white women because black women had no rights). Men held power in relationships, in government, in the Church, in property, and controlled the family. Men also voted and their work helped support the family and the colonies. Men and women were equally important to the family and the survival of the colony. If one fails, the system will not work. However, over time, the system will tilt even more in favor of men. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayWhen they arrived in America, the Pilgrims' life was extremely difficult: there were no stores, shelters , farms and a shortage of women. Life at home was extremely different from the one they had just started. As Jason Ripper says in his book “American Stories: Living American History”: “The early seasons in America were brutal, unyielding and deadly. Winters were colder and summers hotter than the English had experienced, and agricultural prospects were mixed.” Because of this difficult life, women were needed to help men with heavy work. Native Americans helped in areas such as agriculture, but without the men and women carrying out their tasks, the colonies would have had a much harder time surviving. Doing manual labor was new for colonial women. Before coming to America, women only did housework. They were not allowed to go to school or work, and if they worked, they were paid less. So, coming to America, this transition probably wasn't easy. Interestingly, Native American women were much more respected than European women during the 1600s. Women could do almost anything a man did, except for a few things like going to war and hunting . The male colonels found this very strange, claiming that they were “slaves of men”. However, not everyone shared this thought, Benjamin Franklin actually loved the Native American way of life. As Jason Ripper says: “Franklin did not think that Native Americans lived in a caveman state of nature. Rather, he saw that they had sophisticated governments in which both men and women participated.” Franklin was far ahead of his time, unfortunately the rest of the colonies did not see women or Native Americans like him. As time passed and colonies became more established, the need for women in the fields and other forms of forced labor was no longer necessary. Women have regained their traditional role in society. By the 18th century, women were once again the property of men, but they were still extremely important to the functioning of daily life. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Gender Roles of Colonies Contribute to Colony Growth?