20 Bizarre Rules Amish Women Must Follow

We live in a world that relies on technology. In fact, our lifestyles have become so fast-paced, we can access anything with a tap of the finger. But the Amish choose to shun modern advancements in favor of a much more conservative lifestyle. Thanks in part to their interpretation of the Bible, the Amish way of living remains fascinating to us. Here are rules Amish women need to follow.

1. Receiving a higher education is rare

Formal education stops after eighth grade. Women usually become teachers after the eighth grade, but give up their job once married. For Amish women, the focus is on domestic matters.

2. They grow their hair out

Amish women can go their entire lives without getting a haircut. It’s a literal interpretation of the Bible which deems it a “shame” for a woman to get her hair cut. Amish women grow their hair then put it in a bun under the prayer covering on her head.

3. Women cover up with a “bonnet”

The cloth on an Amish woman’s head is actually a “prayer covering.” They wear a bonnet on top of the covering when outside, though. Modesty and humility are the reasons and anything that stands out is unacceptable.

4. Wedding dresses aren’t white

Amish women hues of blue and indigo, unlike the common white we see during weddings. They make their own dresses which are plainly designed and end at the calf. Those dresses get worn again when attending church. Amish women get buried in their wedding dresses as well.

5. Amish women rarely wear makeup

Amish consider themselves “plain” people, a point they take pride in. They intentionally stay away from flashy clothes, so Amish women typically don’t wear makeup. Perhaps weddings are exceptions.

6. Faceless dolls

The commonly held belief is that Amish mothers can’t give their children dolls with faces since this ties to a belief based in Biblical teachings about false idols. Tradition is “Thou shall make no graven image.” Even pictures are rarely taken.

7. Working outside their home is unlikely

Gender roles remain clearly defined. Men expected to work to support the family, while the wife focuses on running the household. It’s rare for an Amish woman to be the breadwinner.

8. Physical contact before marriage is frowned upon

Amish and Mennonite communities are similar to other Christian churches. Modern sects allow couples to kiss during courtship but that’s as far as they’re allowed to go.

9. Puberty and reproduction aren’t taught

Young Amish men and women aren’t told anything about their changing bodies nor do they learn where babies come from. It is assumed that they figure it all out on their own.

10. Being photographed is frowned upon

Posing for a picture is considered overly prideful. Some will allow themselves to get photographed if their faces aren’t shown or if the photo is candid, since they believe posing for the picture makes it inappropriate, not the picture itself.

11. Women can’t become preachers

Amish women don’t take positions of power within the church. Bible teachings define their roles as far as the community is concerned. Which means they let the men take over.

12. They cannot use buttons

Women generally use pins or snaps as compared to the men who use buttons. Many feel buttons are a luxury item and can lead to vanity but some communities aren’t as strict compared to others.

13. Hem length

It varies from community to community, with age also being a factor, but most Amish women’s hems must conform to a certain length. That means no higher than calf length.

14. They cannot accessorize

Adorning themselves with accessories and showing off is frowned upon. Instead of buying jewels, they use their money to feed their huge family which is often triple the size of the standard American family.

15. They are to be submissive and ready to help

Stemming from their interpretation of the bile, the woman was created after man, meaning that Amish women should follow the footsteps of the men, always ready to give a helping hand when asked.

16. The more the merrier

The thought of being childless or not wanting to be a mother is considered sinful in the Amish community. Amish women are expected to have lots of children, not just 2 or 3.

17. To farm and forage

Women learn how to farm and forage with their children helping out in the fields. They also need to learn canning processing to preserve food. This helps them survive the winters.

18. It is the women who cook and clean

Unlike most countries where men are celebrated as chefs, in the Amish community, it is the woman’s job to cook and clean for her family. The men focus on work and making money.

19. Sleeves over elbows

It’s not just the skirts that should follow a certain length, even a woman’s sleeves should reach a certain length. That means reaching and covering the elbows.

20. Women submit to their husbands

Amish society tends to put the wife in a submissive role to her husband. This is once again due to their interpretation of scripture. In public, the husband leads and the wife is expected to follow after him.

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Article Sources:

AmishTraditions

WikiCommons

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