It is the expectation of society that women wear a wedding ring if they are married and that they should not be wearing this ring if they are not married. I argue that this expectation of women to wear a ring or any kind of marital adornments is unfair and should be revoked.
The history of the tradition
The tradition of women wearing a wedding ring has been around for centuries. In the Middle Ages and medieval times, marriage was only about property, as the right to a piece of property was given to the husband. If the wife was married to a man, she was considered to be his property. A woman could not own property and neither could her husband. In the Middle Ages, women were not allowed to work and were considered to be the property of their husbands.
In the 1600s, the idea of a woman wearing a ring was created. It was thought that by wearing a ring, the woman would be more attractive to the man. In the 1800s, the tradition was formalized.
The expectations of women
Women were expected to be submissive and to be married. More than just being married, women were expected to be ‘good’ wives. This expectation of good wives was that they should be obedient to their husbands and should not question anything. For example, a woman should not ask her husband when they were going to have children. This expectation of obedience to husbands was not only in the household but also in society. It was expected that women should not be seen out of their homes unless accompanied by their husbands.
The expectations of men
Men were expected to support their families financially. They were expected to be the breadwinners. If a man did not support his family, he was considered to be a bad man. If a man did not support his family, he was considered to be a bad man. For example, a man who did not provide for his family would be punished. If a man was in a relationship with a woman, he was expected to provide for her. If a man was in a relationship with a woman, he was expected to provide for her.