HIS 261: Research Paper # 12. Discuss the various roles performed by women in colonial times. How accurate is the conventional image of submissive felinity in a macho society?

Role Performed by Women in the Colonial Period
Name of Student
HIS 261
Date Due
Introduction
Even though scholars from other academic disciplines never address certain trends as among the factors that contributed to the struggle against colonization, History, has always pointed out these critical areas. In the various parts of the world, colonization marked a period that saw several natives struggle against multiple forms of impunity. The role of female gender came out expressively as a crucial theme, one which scholars have continually attributed as one of the reasons why we enjoy the current freedom that we have now as the globe. In essence, the role of the female gender is one that can never get ignored.
Analysis of the Role of Women
1Before the advent of colonialism, the 16th-century European women lived strategically in their traditionally designated areas within the society; the women served through their traditional roles which include weaving clothes, serving food, and the rearing and upbringing of children. When the white settlers arrived, they were amazed at how Native American women performed all the traditional and manual responsibilities just as per the standards back in Europe. The women extended their hands outside the house chores to till family farms, while their men were heavily indulged in the leisure of hunting activities, and fishing. So the colonialists took back these stories back home, and upon the arrival of the first colonial company, the Virginia Company, mining was declared as a nonprofitable venture, and the farming of tobacco was introduced.

At first, the initial laborers were men, but soon, women were preferred, and this marks the first signs of extortion and exploitation that were meted to women during the colonial period. 2It is this phase that began to reveal the real role of women, and the first is here, women played the role of laborers in the colonial farms.
3Over time, the demand for tobacco in Europe prompted the colonial powers to establish large farms. The actual labor comprised of the male and female natives was not adequate to man up the production of tobacco. Consequently, the first African bound African slave cargo was brought on board into the Jamestown Colony in 1619. There was the entry of new African labor, and the female black slaves were introduced into the colonial society. 5The female slaves were able to supplement the position that was initially occupied by the native women slaves. First, their first role was to reproduce more children who were to grow as slaves, meaning even their children were considered as properties of the slave owner.4 It should be noted that marriage between them was only restricted to reproduce between them and the African slaves and they were not permitted to marry other slaves, even though they did so secretively.
Farming was not the primary role of women slaves. 6The duty came after their principal responsibility which included, caring for the household, doing heavy laundry, carrying water and being at bay, ready to administer to their master and mistress needs.
3The slave women had extended work hours since, after their daily routines in the field, they had to take care of their family providences such as the preparation of dinner, and harvesting products from their gardens. The European woman’s role was also affected by the formation of slavery. First women’s permanent position was destined for household duties. The white women performed chores like milking, working in the garden, milling grains, baking bread, mending, and preserving bacon. The workload of the European women almost doubled after the introduction of African slaves in America.
During colonialism, the ordinary women in colonial America were reduced to run domestic errands and household duties like raising children, spinning, animal husbandry, preserving food, and cooking. At this period, childbearing was complicated since the level of medical advancement was low. Women maintained large families, as they manufactured textile products, and dairy products to supplement the family income. Moreover, it was the role of women to take care of the public behavior and spiritual well-being of their children. The women had no rights to vote, just like the African male and female slaves.
French and British Colonialism and Westernization in the African Context
8The colonial powers like the British acknowledge that the position of the African woman was one that was well defined. The only major undoing they did, was to attempt to instill the capitalistic ideology to make the African women fit into the capitalist realm. 5The result was that the African women were forced to work on the settler and European farms and mines with the hope of making a living. 9Besides, since the male domain were busy and forcefully working on the colonial farms to obtain revenue, the women were forced to join their counterparts since they served the farms for them to meet the daily basic needs back at home. The gender roles of African women were adversely affected, and this even led to their forced imprisonment, forced education and forced labor. 7Towards independence, African women redefined their position. First, most potent and educated African women joined in the various resistance struggles for freedom. African women also formed workers union movements and pro-liberation groups.Instrumental women like Winnie Mandela will forever get recognized for their stance against oppression.
The Image of Submissive Felinity in a Macho Society
In the Iberian speaking societies, mainly in both the former Spanish and Portuguese families, macho is a term that denotes the sense of being manly, and self-dependent. The concept is solidly attached to the pride that the Iberian societies feel as a result of their exaggerated masculinity. According to the macho feeling a man must fend, provide and protect their family. Indeed, this is how far a society can get entrapped in the emotions of the male domain.
Indeed, if we juxtapose and draw comparisons from the colonial period, which saw women emerge out as a specific gender which was capable of going to the extent of fighting for their rights, the Macho point of view contrasts this view. The roots of the Macho feeling are initiated by the men as they grow up way back from their childhood days. The women who serve as their caretakers instill the macho belief in them. While the male domain goes to work on the farm, the women stay behind at home. It is the sole obligation of men to work on behalf of the family it is.
Then, being a man also entails that one must be responsible. There is no space for a man who gets infidel as this is a symbol of total disrespect and failure on the part of the man. A man is supposed to care for the wife and family, and he should not fall before any one of the female genders. Besides, a man must not disrespect women is this may deem them to feel like failures. What makes a man complete is his capabilities to be able to master total self-control. Here, a man has to stand strong because of the privileges and opportunities they exhibit, and these their women counterparts lack. Indeed, in Mexico, the worst part of being a man is the reality of ‘being a man.’ It is this that has led to the stereotyping of the ordinary Mexican man who can get considered as the negative aspect of being a man.
Consequently, Macho has its negative consequences, and this is the psychological aspect. Within the US, Mexican men in Diaspora have been reported to exhibit high-stress levels due to excessive work and money problems. The men are clueless about how to handle the stress of being the breadwinner to over dependant extended families back at home. The men have to work hard only to send back their hard earned cash to their families back at home. The only remedy relief that can help the men take away their stress is when they take their partners to church.
Conclusion
History presents a world that exhibits a lot of ironical themes. During the colonial era, women were struggling to have their position and value in the society. In the end, a comparison between their state and Macho state concludes that the dynamics and shifts of societal development take different time, conditions, and values to shape.
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