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Amish Women

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Amish Women & Life

Amish women have a distinct but very important part to play in the Amish communities. While in the 'English' society, we might find them to be oppressed, or not liberated, this is purely a lack of understanding.

As much as possible, the Amish model their lives on the best of the Christian understanding and practices.

The Amish women I know are strong, beautiful women, with compassionate hearts, joyful interest in life and others, hard working.

The Amish lifestyle simply couldn't continue without committed women making it work for all of them. It is a fine thing to see.

This lense is being built. I plan on bringing you good information, interesting stories, and giving you a good resource about Amish women. I thank you for your patience!

Different Amish Communities, Different Choices

One of the most obvious things about Amish women is that they wear bonnets of some sort. Mrs C, shown, lives in Indiana, where married women wear white bonnets; other communities married women wear black bonnets.

In this community, all the females, from the smallest to the oldest, never cut their hair. They pull their hair back tightly in a bun, which is the reason the particular prayer bonnet Mrs. C is wearing is preferred here. It accommodates the hair bun and is easily secured to the head. The smallest girls don't always wear their bonnets when they're home playing outside, but their hair is always put in a bun. When they go anywhere the bonnets are put on their heads.

Mrs. C wears her bonnet ALL THE TIME, when she's working in house, in the garden, everywhere she goes. I doubt she wears one to bed, but I don't ask, and in unheated homes, wearing a warm hat to bed helps tremendously.

Wearing a bonnet or headcovering is a very traditional thing for women to do and it has very good reasons according to scripture, which I will discuss further in this lense.

Amish Women's Issues

Lancaster Online.com: News : 300 at rally to support lay midwife: Traditional Community Activity under government stress

Reader Feedback

Do you have questions you'd like to see here? Comments? Resources? Stories? Articles? Please let me know and together we can make this a great and interesting lense!

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LewesDE Feb 17, 2012 @ 3:45 am | delete

Nice lens. Interesting reading!

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Gokce Dec 11, 2011 @ 7:44 am | delete

Can anyone explain me briefly that why amish men do not cut their beard and amish women do not cut their hair? Is there special reason for that? thank you from now

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jeff chedester Jul 20, 2011 @ 9:40 pm | delete

my wife used to be amish (jeffreychedester@hotmail.com)

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briana Aug 1, 2009 @ 4:08 pm | delete

I'm going to do a power point for my mom on the life style and traditions of the Amish. I'm going to do this because today we went to go get milk at an Amish place and i was asking her questions about them she said she didn't know and if i wanted to know to research it. Well I'm researching and i haven't found much so here are some questions I'm wonder. First, why do the Amish women never cut their hair? Next, is there a specific reason why the Amish women put their hair in buns? Next, do the Amish women change their dress color when they get older, if they do what is the pattern? Next, why do the Amish men wear straw hats and trousers why don't they wear pants and a tee shirt? Do the Amish still not use electricity? If they don't what do they use for light? Candles? I might have more later :)

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natalie Apr 18, 2011 @ 12:08 pm | delete

hi, to answer you question if you still are wondering. Amish women don't cut there hair because its a biblical command there hair is considered a type of head covering. they put there hair in buns so that they can cover there hair with a prayer covering( using a prayer covering signify that you are a born again Christian) they use a cape dress pattern, the Amish are plan so they try and keep the same color dresses. most community don't make the men wear straw hats its just a preference of there own. they wear trousers for the same reason the women wear dresses because the bible stated the christian should be separate form the world and also conservative. some community's can use electricity like if they have a business they use generators. they run gas into there houses and barns by pipes which can be lit to make gas light. but in they are a pain if it gets to windy they wont work as good or if they just dust inside them. Also a lot of communities allow cell phones or a phone in a designated building if they need to make emergency calls. if you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask
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Economic Issues

Economics of the Amish community and their effects on the lives of women

IDSnews.com: Stores sell Amish clothing for those who don't sew

Women's Clothing

All Amish women in a given community dress the same. Much of what they wear has religious meaning.

The Christian Woman's Veiling: The Christian Woman's Veiling by Harold S. Martin
Headcovering: The practice of headcovering as described in 1 Corinthians 11 is relevant today. As I was for so long, you too may have been deceived regarding this practice by those you trusted to teach and model proper God fearing behavior.
Is a Woman's Hair Her Only Covering?: A sister wrote to ask a sincere question about Paul's comment that a woman's hair is given to her for a covering. Is this the only covering a woman needs on her head? This article addresses this question.
Head Covering and Government: One of the most neglected teachings of the kingdom of God today is also one of the most profound are far reaching. When one understands that it touches on Satan's original sin, we can discern why he works so tirelessly to obscure the truth.
GAMEO: Welcome to GAMEO (Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online)
Veiling of Women in the Global Mennonite Church
Beneath the Surface: A Deeper Look at Modesty: Ancient Jewish Understanding of Modesty

Amish Women

Amish Women & Life

Contents at a Glance

Contents at a Glance

Prayer Bonnets & Head Coverings

Different Amish Communities, Different Choices

Amish Women's Issues

Reader Feedback

Economic Issues

Women's Clothing

Amish Quilts

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