What were the social and economic roles of women in the Dutch East India Company?

What were the social and economic roles of women in the Dutch East India Company?

In the Dutch East India Company, women had limited social and economic roles. They were not allowed to become shareholders or hold positions of power within the company. Instead, women primarily played supportive roles, such as accompanying their husbands who worked for the company or assisting in domestic tasks. They often served as wives, mothers, or caregivers, maintaining households and providing emotional support to their male counterparts. However, some women did engage in trade and business activities independently, particularly widows who inherited their husbands' positions or businesses. Overall, women's roles in the Dutch East India Company were largely confined to the domestic sphere and were subordinate to men's roles in the company.