In colonial America, men dictated women’s meaning and worth.  Girls were expected to be obedient to their fathers and serve them. Upon marriage, women would become their husband’s property. This meant doing all household chores, caring for the children and teaching the girls. This earlier patriarchal view of women is exhibited through their clothes, which were full coverage and restricting. Women were obviously not doing much outdoor work, or any hard labor, which would have been difficult in their attire.

Women’s clothes did not just represent their oppression, however. Women were also the main consumer’s of the time, since they would do the majority of the shopping for the household. Their money could speak where they were not allowed, making their clothing a powerful and bold statement.