What were some of the roles women and children played in the Qing dynasty? What are some examples?

The role of women and children in the Qing Dynasty depended greatly on social class and rank. Overall, the home consisted of large extended family, all of whom played some sort of role in raising and developing the child. Women were primarily responsible for child-rearing in all classes and were also often responsible for the child's early education. Women also were responsible for caring for the house and cleaning. They also did activities such as...

The role of women and children in the Qing Dynasty depended greatly on social class and rank. Overall, the home consisted of large extended family, all of whom played some sort of role in raising and developing the child. Women were primarily responsible for child-rearing in all classes and were also often responsible for the child's early education. Women also were responsible for caring for the house and cleaning. They also did activities such as embroidery, sewing, and cooking. Elite women may also have read or done calligraphy. All of this being said, the Qing Dynasty also brought along great change for women. For the first time, women were allowed to fight in battle alongside men, could receive payment for work in the fields, and were permitted to engage in leisure activities. Women in lower classes got jobs as wet nurses, shopkeepers, or storytellers. Women in higher social classes had more restrictions as far as jobs went.

Young children were not separated based on gender, but would play together until about age 7 or 8. At this time, divisions would be more clearly defined. Elite boys would begin to attend school. Boys who were not raised in elite classes or were from peasant households would begin to engage in more strenuous work, perhaps in the fields, or would gain new duties in a shop or studio. Young girls would learn skills from other women in the household regarding how to be more feminine, such as learning to sew and cook.