Women in Upper Canada
“It was very busy again until twelve o’clock, first in directing my old Yorkshire man how to cut up a fat pig which was slaughtered last night, and then assisting the old Irishwoman to salt and pack away the same. I value myself on being able to put more into a barrel than anybody else except Southby, though this part of the business is usually the province of the man.”
- Mary O’Brien, pioneer woman.
Women in Upper Canada were mostly defined by their social class. Expectations, lifestyle, prejudices, and beliefs laid upon them all differed depending on the class to which they belonged. This was mark of their English heritage. Not working outside of home or property, women thought of their own success and failures based on their father’s and husband’s success and failures. Because they had to rely on relatives for support and a place to live, unmarried women were often pitied. This made finding a good man for marriage a predominant goal in the family members lives.
Upper-class women were always busy: tending to housework, planting, and harvesting. They made candles and soap and were expected to have large families. Because of the rural society in which they lived in, children were required to do work and chores as soon as they were capable to.
Upper-class women were always busy: tending to housework, planting, and harvesting. They made candles and soap and were expected to have large families. Because of the rural society in which they lived in, children were required to do work and chores as soon as they were capable to.