The way of life of the Amish is deeply rooted in the Anabaptist tradition, which, in turn, stands firmly on the Word of God. Yesterday, I posted a guest article that summarises Anabaptist thought on the matter; today, I am going to talk about women in Amish society.
Amish families
are generally run on ‘traditional’ lines, the woman stays at home to look after
the children and the home, while the man is the ‘bread winner’. Divorce is
unheard of; marriage is for life; remarriage only takes place after a husband
or wife has died. The husband is the head of the home and he makes the final
decisions. The church is likewise led by the men.
If that was
all there was to it, then outsiders might be forgiven for thinking the Amish
live a strict, regimented life that is little but drudgery for the wife. But that
is not all there is to it. Women are not treated a servants or slaves; they are
allowed to speak their minds and they do far more than ‘just’ keeping house. She
finds fulfilment and security in the way of life handed down through the ages
and based in Biblical teaching. While the husband has the final say, he does
listen to the views and concerns of his wife and takes these into consideration
when he makes his decision. In practice, important decisions about the family
are made jointly.
“Amish men and women usually assume traditional and
well-defined gender roles. Husbands carry the primary responsibility for the
financial well-being of the family. Wives typically devote themselves to
housekeeping and motherhood. As in most families, gender roles in Amish
marriages vary by personality; there are shades of dominance from husband to
wife across a wide spectrum with many variations. In non-farm families,
typically the husband is the primary breadwinner, but in cases where a wife
owns a business, she may provide most of the family income. When husbands work
at home, there is often considerable cross-sharing of roles—women assisting in
the barn or shop, and men in the garden or around the house.” “Amish women share in household decision making and child discipline, even as they affirm the man’s role as the religious head of the home. Although the man serves as the spiritual head of the home, mothers are very active in nurturing the spiritual life of children.”
The same is
true of decisions in the church. Women are allowed to recommend men to be
leaders of the church and take full part in any voting:
“Likewise,
within the church, the role of the woman is important and respected but
limited. For instance, women participate in nominating the ministers, deacons,
and bishops as well as voting on other community affairs. However, they are not
given any leadership roles themselves other than as Sunday school teachers,
song leaders, worship leaders, and church elders.”The woman sees her role as homemaker as being of the utmost importance and runs her home efficiently, in line with Proverbs 31. She looks after any children, does the cooking, sews the clothes (all Amish outer clothing is homemade), does the shopping, plants a garden to help feed the (usually large) family, cleans the house, and she might start a business of her own, such as baking, rug making, or quilting.
“Amish women are esteemed in Amish society for the
contribution they make to home and community. They are mothers, managers of the
household, and play an important role in maintaining communal ties. As the home
is considered in some ways the centre of Amish life, her role in maintaining it
is highly important.”
She will
assist her husband with the farm chores and might have some animals to tend
herself, such as chickens. But even though the roles are clearly
differentiated, a husband will help with child rearing, cook meals when
necessary, and help clean the house. Any money she earns is her own, unless she
needs to supplement the family income (something that is becoming increasingly
necessary in today’s economic downturn).
Modern women
and those who study patriarchal societies consider that Amish women are
oppressed and down trodden and therefore need ‘rescuing’. Amish women on the
other hand feel mostly fulfilled and do not see them as oppressed at all.
“However, the perception of the Amish woman as necessarily oppressed is
one which ignores the reality of her position, as well as Amish values.”
They relish
their way of life, even though it is hard work, and believe they are acting in
God’s will. In response, the Amish find today’s women foolish, striving to be
in the place of men. Amish women do not need ‘liberating’; they find themselves
liberated enough within the boundaries of their society. She has a respected
role and she as well as the rest of Amish society considers that her work is
important. Tasks such as washing, mending and cooking are not seen as menial
and drudgery; they are vital for the proper functioning of society. Where would
they all be if no-one looked after the home or the children? They see modern
society as failing in this regard and speak of the state of today’s youth as
evidence that something is wrong. There is very little teenage rebellion in
Amish society, while it is much more prevalent in the wider population.
Sources:
See also:
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