Doucet 1

Gabrielle Doucet
Y. Garza
English II Honors
March 29, 2015
Prim and Proper Vs. Rock and Roll
The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over
him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him,
under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved, says Matthew Henry in his
interpretation from his commentary of the bible. Henry points out teachings derived from studies
on the bible pointing to the position of a woman to a man. Society has struggled with gender
roles in the past wither or not if they have followed the bibles teachings on it. Compare the roles
between the Elizabethan Era and the 1950s. The two time periods have comparably different but
also similar roles of men and women.
During the Elizabethan Era, men and women had very different almost opposite roles.
The Elizabethan life of men was one of power and authority as head of the family and men were
expected to be obeyed (Dobarganes). Elizabethan women were seen as inferior and any
disobedience was seen as a crime against religion (Maiersperger). The men were expected to
support the family as well as improve the positions of members in the family. Women were
expected to be obedient as well as provide heirs to their husbands (Alchin). A lot was expected
from both men and women in this period of time.
The 1950s were somewhat different, times when women were completely submissive
had passed. In fact, while their husbands were off at war, Women played a crucial role in
America, (George). They were doing the mens work. However, when the men returned in the
50s, they drove the women from the manufacturing and industrial trade to being full time house

Doucet 2

makers. Everything was fine for the men because, The security of a family unit headed by a
male, was the belief of that time (Voight). Men went back to being the breadwinners of them
family but women had a taste of being in charge for a while.
When looking at both periods, they are very favorable to men. They are similar I the
belief that men were at the head of the family and take most of the responsibility. In both periods
the women are similar because they are not quite considered equal to the man,, However there is
also a huge difference to the role of a women. In the Elizabethan Age, if you disobeyed the man
it was a sin. In the 1950s women were allowed to do the work of a man even if it was for a short
period of time. Men may always be seen or may be preferred to being the head of the family but
women will always be needed as a key part of the family no matter what age they are in.
Between the two time periods of the Elizabethan Age and the 1950s there were
similarities and differences of the roles of men and women. As Matthew Henry pointed out, in
the Bible, it is explained that men and women are equal and as its been shown through the
progression of time, through the Elizabethan age and the 1950s, women continue to stand closer
to men until they are made equal.

Doucet 3

Dobarganes, Pia. "Gender Roles In Elizabethan Times." Prezi.com. 6 Mar. 2013. Web. 30 Mar.
2015. <https://prezi.com/pj81ats1a_1s/gender-roles-in-elizabethan-times/>.
Maiersperger, Brandon. "Life of Men during the Elizabethan Era." Prezi.com. 14 Jan. 2013. Web.
30 Mar. 2015. <https://prezi.com/vv8guz8aloyi/life-of-men-during-the-elizabethan-era/>.
Alchin, L.K. "Elizabethan Family Life." Elizabethan Family Life. 16 May 2012. Web. 30 Mar.
2015. <http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-family-life.htm>.
George, K. "Gender Roles In A Post-War America." ThirdSight History. Rollins, 13 Apr. 2013.
Web. 30 Mar. 2015. <http://social.rollins.edu/wpsites/thirdsight/2013/04/13/gender-rolesin-a-post-war-america/>.
Voight, Ginger. "Gender Roles of Men in the 1950s." EHow. Demand Media, 5 May 2011. Web.
30 Mar. 2015. <http://www.ehow.com/info_8363296_gender-roles-men-1950s.html>.
Henry, Matthew. "Quotes About Gender Roles." (120 Quotes). Goodreads Inc., 1 Jan. 2015. Web.
30 Mar. 2015. <http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/gender-roles>.