DOIAbstract
Constructing Gender in Early Modern England : Observation Gossip and Reputation The roles of men and women in society are not natural ; they are the result of expectations that must be taught to each new generation, and which are enforced, formally and informally, by society.This article examines the expectations of women and men in early modern England and the enforcement of those expectations. The focus is on informal enforcement, through the building of reputation on the basis of observation and gossip ; these processes are observed in reference to courtship, relations within marriage, and marital breakdown. This study demonstrates the importance of informal methods of control in the social construction of women and men, and of their r...
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