WOMEN'S ROLES:
Many characters are portrayed at a living history event. Roles for women are as varied as those for men, they are just not as well known. Please remember however, this is mid 18th Century Scotland and women, like men, need to stifle their 21st Century rhetoric. These women were plucky, determined, self sufficient and adroit; but not out of their "place" or making demands.

Officer's wives, Ladies, and female guests of the officers, were there to observe and be with their men or visit the Prince. They did not work, nor did they associate with common women.

Many different jobs were commonly filled by camp women: cooking, nursing, gathering supplies and firewood, working the baggage train, laundress, seamstress, and "button money" women. Button Money women were often seamstresses by day and prostitutes by night. The term "loose woman" comes from these ladies "working" with their stays only loosely tied (thus easily slipped out of). This differs from "straight laced" women who were not loose, and kept their stays covered and tight. Prostitution was a common and not necessarily evil profession. It's well presented in camp each year, but should be accurately portrayed by a very limited number of women. (back to top)

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