On 16 February 1655, Wendela Bicker married the Dutch elder statesman Johan de Witt. Wendela built up the reputation of being a true loving and caring housewife and mother of eight children.
In an IRSH research article (vol 56 special issue 19, 2011), Ariadne Schmidt argues that the ideology which identified women with a domestic role became more articulated in north-western Europe throughout the early modern period. At the same time, perceptions of work changed and a new appraisal of labour emerged. How did women fit in with the new ideology of work?
The author discusses common notions of the economic role of women as they emerged from the debates on women, gender relations, and work; how these notions were translated into practical advice in conduct literature; and with what norms women were confronted in everyday life.