Questions for 9/11

What were the lives of elite Jewish women like in the 16th century Ottoman Empire?

 Elite Jewish women or "Kyras" as they were called were treated very differently than regular women. These women were treated very well. These women had much more freedom than most other women in the Jewish culture. They were able to contribute in many government activities. A lot of the women were very active in the Ottoman diplomacy and contributed greatly. Elite women were also allowed to take over family businesses. The reading noted a woman who took over for her husband who was a banker when he died.

 What kinds of occupations did women engage in? Women held many different jobs. The jobs the women held was a direct correlation of how much money they had and their status in the community. Elite women could work in politics. The poorest could end up being servants for the elite women. In between women could sell different goods such as, jewelry, silks and other luxury items. Other women worked in family businesses or at home. Most women worked in the domestic side of the family.