Though the Reformation generally improved the status of Women, both Catholics and Protestants continued to see women as subservient to men, limited them to the household and neither gave

women an official role in the structure or administration of the church.

Women and the Reformation

Catholic Women

Catholic women could achieve important positions as the heads of convents or founders of monastic ordersAngela Merici, founder or the Ursuline order during the Counter-

Reformation, played a significant role in the education of women.Catholic women also achieved renown and status for

their religiosity. Joan of Arc was allowed to inspire the French army to victory over

the English because of her religious convictions; she later became a patron saint of France.

Teresa of Avila was famous for her mystical visions as well as for her writings, whose importance were acknowledged when she was made a doctor of the Church.

The ideal life of a Catholic was a monastic one, away from the world, celibate, and devoted to religious work, so unmarried women who were cloistered were often highly regarded.

Protestant WomenProtestants generally banned monasticism because it is not found

in Scripture; instead they argued that to do God’s work, one must live in this world, in

secular society.Women lost opportunities for status and power when convents

disappeared unmarried women lost a place to live as well as a career path

Protestants removed the special status of priest making all believers equal in the eyes of God and this had an significant impact on womenMinisters had to marry and have children and women gained new

importance for their particular roles as wives of pastors and in general in their management of the household.

They were encouraged to become literate so they could read the Bible and properly raise their children.

Marriage began to be seen as more of an equal partnership. Martin Luther and his wife, like many other Protestant couples, had double

portraits commissioned, reflecting this new spirit.Marriage was not a sacrament to Protestants, so divorce was permitted.

This meant that an unpleasant or abusive relationship could be ended, thus providing greater protection for women.