Gender Roles of the Amish
The traditions of the Amish are a mystery to many as their communities are small and relatively isolated. The Amish live in 28 states and the province of Ontario, with the largest populations in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The glue that binds their society is a shared belief system based on their version of Christianity, strictly maintaining a culture, including gender roles, that originated in the late 17th century in Switzerland.
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Amish Men as Church Leaders
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Members of an Amish community take their religion and prescribed practices seriously, and Bible study and regular church attendance are a central tenet that guide their lives. Men are considered the spiritual leaders of both the household and the community at large. Women are forbidden to hold ministry roles in the church, which is the men's domain. Women are allowed to vote in church matters, but are not allowed to take leadership roles in church activities.
Women as Educators
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The Amish do not send their children to public schools. Instead, each community takes responsibility for a child's primary education by providing a schoolhouse for children to attend daily. Women take on the role of educating, working as teachers in the school of their community. The role of schoolhouse teacher is rarely, if ever, held by a man. The Amish do not provide their members with a college education, nor do they require one. For many Amish children their formal education ends after eighth grade.
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Men as Breadwinners
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Traditionally, Amish husbands and fathers are the breadwinners of their household. The Amish strive to keep their communities financially independent, which allows them to be self-sustained. Men typically run the household finances and earn money through farming or through other businesses that require manual labor, such as furniture production.
Women as Caregivers
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The woman's main task in her day-to-day life is to be the caregiver to her young children as well as to tend the garden, maintain the family's clothing -- Amish clothing is handmade -- and keep the household clean and efficient. In recent years, some women whose children are grown have started their own small businesses. These businesses typically involve tasks that are considered women's skills in the Amish community, such as quilt making.
Exceptions to Gender Roles
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Overall, the Amish follow traditional gender roles, in which the man earns the lion's share of household income through manual labor and the woman takes care of the children, sewing and cleaning. However, within each household, the dynamic is unique. Amish men are not above helping with the children when necessary or allowing their wife's business to be the primary source of income. Men will help in the garden when necessary and when asked, and women will help in the barn or the shop when necessary, regardless of their other household or financial responsibilities. Much like in the modern world, as time continues, women are taking larger roles in providing household income, especially if they are without young children to care for.
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