The Role of Women in the Global Society

The Island at the Centre of the World

The Island at the Centre of the World is Russel Shorto’s book that captures various aspects in the global history over the period, and was used to create the modern New York City. It also depicts how the Manhattan through the Dutch colony was able to improve on free trade, religious freedom, and advancement of science among other values, to lead to the contemporary society that majorly effected the American culture. According to Shorto, different themes are developed from this non-fiction book and in this article, the focus is on the influence of gender roles and its implication on the lives of the Dutch and American society.

Gender Roles

Russel over time stated that the presence and opinions of women had no influence over the decisions that were made concerning the state. For instance, Russel states that in the church, “pews were for men—women were required to bring their own stools if they wanted to sit” (Chapter 8). According to them, the woman ought to work together with the housemaid and not allowed to join parties or celebrations that happened. This is the same case with the painting in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the special exhibition on the Dutch art from the Golden age ‘Merrymakers at Shrovetide’ where a man is dressed up as a woman during the traditional periods of occasions that happened before the fasting and Lent season. As it was a highly disciples period in the Catholic religion, theoretical performances that happened before the Lent period were full of celebrations and glamour. In the image, an image of a richly dressed girl in the company of other men appears. This is believed to be the dressing up of a boy as women were not allowed to perform on these types of occasions, as they did not believe they were deserving. For this reason, Russel’s idea of the society’s portrayal of the female society was proved by this as most times they would be considered inferior.

Role of Women in Society

Russel states that the role of women in the society was not dignified, as during the Renaissance era to the modern society, the soldiers who were to be on guard duty fornicated with most of the Indian women and more of the newcomers to the society. He also explains Van der Donck’s writing about how ”their womenfolk have an attractive grace about them . . . and if they were instructed as our women are they would no doubt differ little from them, if at all”(Chapter 6). This showed how they were often considered the lesser of both roles and that they acted as objects of satisfaction for the erotic desires of the men in the same society. According to the Dutch colony in the Manhattan, the influence of women in the society was minimal and their presence did not mean much to the people around.

Life of Refugees and Freedom

The Indian society also created strikes to which they burnt crops, hacked Manhattan cattle while killing any whites around and dragging women and children to captivity during the wars. This was done so as to ensure that the men fought towards the rescue of their families as the women and children were vulnerable in the world of the Indians. They were made refugees over the years, while forced to hard labour for their freedom. In 1643, all of them had been labourers and captives in their own land with no one to blame or turn towards for support. Reverend Jonas Michaelius, who was in the Netherlands accused women as slaves of theft and that the black women that worked in his house were ”thievish, lazy, and useless trash” and that the men were lazy and not willing to work(Chapter 13). He therefore issued a decree that the workers be sold to provide maximum profit for the company. The Africans however, over time, were able to be freed and in some instances, had Europeans as their workers after the freedom had been restored. The men therefore, according to Russel, were as vulnerable during the oppression as much as women as they would also experience the inhuman treatment as received from the Europeans.

Refuge in Leiden

However, over time, the refugees were able to escape from the persecution and settled in Leiden, which over time became the host for many refugees who had escaped war. It was a refuge for many of the men, women and children as they had fled from the persecution in England. According to Russel, the magistrates had accepted the presence of the refugees in the city as he had wrote back to them approving their stay. He said that ”We refuse no honest persons ingress to come and have their residence in this city, provided that such persons behave themselves honestly, and submit to all the laws and ordinances here”(Chapter 13). All the refugees found peace and comfort in the city and more acts of freedom were expressed over time. This article therefore brings out the importance of the women and children in the society and defines how the theme correlates to their influence in the global society.

Works Cited

Shorto, Russell. The island at the center of the world: The epic story of Dutch Manhattan and

the forgotten colony that shaped America. Vintage, 2005.