The Amish community, known for its commitment to traditional values and rejection of modern conveniences, imposes various restrictions on its members, especially women. Here are 15 things that Amish women are generally prohibited from doing, which American women commonly have the freedom to do:
1. Wearing Modern Clothing
Amish women are required to wear plain, modest clothing, usually in the form of long dresses, aprons, and bonnets. Modern fashion items like jeans, T-shirts, and short skirts are not permitted as they are seen as expressions of vanity and are contrary to Amish values of modesty and humility.
2. Using Makeup or Jewelry
Amish women are not allowed to wear makeup or jewelry, including items like earrings, necklaces, and even wedding rings. These adornments are considered to promote vanity and pride, which are discouraged in their community.
3. Cutting Their Hair
Amish women are prohibited from cutting their hair. They keep it long and typically wear it in a bun, covered with a bonnet or prayer cap. Long hair is seen as a symbol of femininity and modesty, and cutting it is against their religious teachings.
4. Using Modern Technology
Amish women, like all Amish people, avoid using modern technology such as computers, smartphones, and televisions. They adhere to a lifestyle that rejects these conveniences to maintain a separation from the influences of the outside world.
5. Driving Cars
Amish women are not allowed to drive cars. The community relies on horse-drawn buggies for transportation, keeping them closely tied to their local community and limiting their ability to travel independently or far distances.
6. Voting in Public Elections
Amish women generally do not vote in public elections. The Amish practice a principle of separation from the state and political systems, believing that engagement in such activities could compromise their spiritual integrity and lead to worldly conflicts.
7. Pursuing Higher Education
Amish women do not pursue higher education. Most Amish children complete their formal schooling at the eighth grade, after which girls are expected to focus on learning domestic skills and preparing for their roles within the community rather than pursuing careers or advanced degrees.
8. Joining the Military
Amish women, and men, are pacifists and therefore do not join the military. The Amish faith emphasizes non-violence and pacifism, and military service is seen as incompatible with their commitment to peace and separation from worldly conflicts.
9. Using Birth Control
Amish women typically do not use birth control. The community values large families and views children as a blessing from God. Birth control is often considered to interfere with divine will and natural processes.
10. Owning or Managing Businesses
While Amish women may help with family businesses, they generally do not own or manage businesses independently. The community places a strong emphasis on traditional gender roles, where men are usually the primary decision-makers and breadwinners.
11. Participating in Competitive Sports
Amish women do not participate in competitive sports or physical activities that are seen as promoting individualism and competition. Their lifestyle emphasizes community cooperation and modesty, which is seen as incompatible with competitive sports.
12. Living Independently Before Marriage
Amish women do not live independently before marriage. They typically remain with their families until they marry, at which point they move into a home with their husband. This practice reinforces the community’s values of family unity and dependence on the community.
13. Freely Expressing Opinions in Public Forums
Amish women generally do not participate in public debates or express their opinions in public forums. The community values modesty and humility, and public expression of personal views is often discouraged, particularly for women.
14. Engaging in Fashion or Beauty Industries
Amish women do not engage in fashion or beauty industries, which are seen as contrary to their values of modesty and simplicity. These industries promote trends and personal appearance, which conflict with Amish teachings on humility and plain living.
15. Using Electricity from the Grid
Amish women, like their male counterparts, do not use electricity from the grid. The Amish community relies on alternative sources of power, such as gas or solar energy, to maintain their separation from the modern world and its conveniences. This restriction includes the use of electric appliances and devices that are common in American households.
These restrictions highlight the significant differences between the lives of Amish women and their American counterparts, emphasizing the community’s commitment to tradition, modesty, and separation from the broader societal norms.
18 Things You Should Probably Stop Doing After Age 50
18 Things You Should Probably Stop Doing After Age 50
19 Products Marketed Almost Exclusively To Stupid People
19 Products Marketed Almost Exclusively To Stupid People
No Boomers Allowed: 15 States Where Retirees Are Not Welcome
No Boomers Allowed: 15 States Where Retirees Are Not Welcome
18 Disturbing Conspiracy Theories You Laughed Off But Were Actually True
18 Disturbing Conspiracy Theories You Laughed Off But Were Actually True
18 Everyday Phrases Unintentionally Reflecting White Privilege
18 Everyday Phrases Unintentionally Reflecting White Privilege
Amanda Wright
-
Amanda Wright#molongui-disabled-link
-
Amanda Wright#molongui-disabled-link
-
Amanda Wright#molongui-disabled-link
-
Amanda Wright#molongui-disabled-link