In this course, we will examine the eighteenth century definition of the phrase notable women. Today we would define a notable woman as distinguished, prominent, or famous. That definition bears little resemblance to what the term notable woman meant in the mid and late eighteenth century. Then a notable woman was one who was industrious, frugal, and fruitful. 

The woman was the chief production officer in the household. She made finished goods out of what her husband supplied: food out of crops, cloth out of cotton and wool, and clothing out of cloth and animal skins. Of the first importance, she produced babies creating the labor force for whatever the family enterprise was. An eighteenth century American wife was an economic bow in her husband’s quiver. The notion of a woman as companion would come later; the notion of a woman as equal partner would come much later.

From the mid to late eighteenth century, in the rough, under-populated American landscape, a good woman was a useful wife: desirable primarily as the maker of goods and filler of needs, not as an individual. An amiable woman was not affable; an amiable woman was compliant and deferential. An attractive woman was not physically appealing; an attractive woman was an agreeable and obedient woman. A homely woman was not ugly, she was domestic, her path to becoming notable.

In this course, we will examine the meanings of the words notable, attractive, amiable and of many other words whose meaning was different because the world was different. We will gain an understanding of those differences and become acquainted with eighteenth century women as they were.

Recommended Reading: https://www.amazon.com/Remarkable-Women-New-England-Daughters/dp/1493016687

Carole Owens holds a doctorate, practiced for 30 years as a therapist and mental health program designer. She has written 12 books mostly on American history with brief forays into murder mysteries. Currently she writes for the Berkshire Edge, the Berkshire Eagle, and her own hyper-local paper, Stockbridge Updates.

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