Women in the 16th century were primarily wives and mothers. Unlike today, women in the 16th century had limited choices for employment if they had any at all. Spinning wool was almost always done by women. Some women worked jobs that involved embroidering, sewing, or doing millinery work. They sometimes earned money working as washerwomen or domestic servants. Women did very important work as midwives. During this time, doctors did not deliver babies. Women today can choose whichever occupation they desire.
Housewives kept busy and had many responsibilities in the home in the 16th century. In addition to caring for children, they also had to prepare food, make clothes, milk cows, collect eggs, shop in the market, and clean. These tasks were dependent on whether a woman lived in the country or in a town or village. All these things may be done by women today, but most are not. Women today may choose to share household chores with their spouse or partner.
It was not uncommon for a woman to not know how to read in 16th century society. Girls rarely attended school. Sometimes they were educated at home. Only the wealthy could afford private tutors. Today women received many years of education.
Families were large in the 16th century. Women typically had many children. It was fairly common for women to die due to complications after childbirth. In modern societies, women rarely die due to childbirth. Women of today usually have families that are much smaller.
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