Reports estimate that there are about 360,000 members of the Amish community in the United States, and others state that this number is growing every year.
Amish Americans follow their own religion and way of life that’s quite different from the rest of the population, and that includes some very specific rules for women that may surprise you.
Amish Women Are Expected to be Subservient to Men
While Amish women are considered essential in the function of the household and the community as a whole, they are expected to be submissive to their husbands.
The Amish believe that when women defer to their husbands’ wishes and opinions, it creates stability and order within the nuclear and larger families. They argue that this doesn’t make the women powerless but instead the backbone of the community.
Amish Women Rarely Work Outside the Home
While it’s not technically forbidden, Amish women very rarely work outside the home. They certainly work hard; however, their jobs only include raising their children, cleaning, cooking, weaving, and helping on the farm.
Occasionally, an unmarried woman may get a job as a midwife or teacher, but once they become a wife, it’s important that they focus on their domestic duties.
Amish Men and Women Cannot Touch Before Marriage
Historically, unmarried women and men within the Amish community were completely prohibited from physical contact before their wedding ceremony. However, some adjustments have been made to this rule in recent years.
Now, when a man and woman are courting or preparing for marriage, they may sleep next to each other at night in order to get to know each other better before the big day. However, they do so in sacks with a board between them to ensure they don’t accidentally touch while sleeping.
Women in the Amish Community Don’t Go to College
Within the Amish community, education only lasts until the eighth grade, or about thirteen years old. Almost no Amish children, girls or boys, ever even attend high school.
Getting a college degree is essentially unheard of, especially for Amish women. Unless, of course, they leave their community behind for a different life.
Amish Women Cannot Get Divorced
Divorce is not allowed within the Amish community. That means that neither women nor men can legally leave their spouses, no matter what their personal situation is.
That being said, if there is “marital disharmony,” the two may be allowed to live separately. However, this is quite rare, and in most cases, an Amish woman cannot decide to live separately from her husband. He has to make that choice, and she must submit.
Amish Women Must Keep Their Hair Long
Several rules dictate how an Amish woman must look, one of which is that she cannot cut her hair short.
According to the Amish interpretation of the Bible, “a woman’s hair is her glory,” and therefore, “cutting hair is seen as an act of defiance against God’s will.”
Women Within the Amish Community Must Cover Their Heads
Interestingly, although an Amish woman’s hair is her “glory,” it must be covered at all times. Married women wear white bonnets, whereas unmarried women wear back bonnets.
These bonnets are worn over smaller coverings called prayer coverings or kapps, and they are both worn at all times, both inside and outside the home.
Amish Brides Don’t Dress in White
In following Amish tradition, brides never wear a white dress like most other cultures. Instead, they opt for dresses made of blue and indigo.
Within their culture, indigo is associated with heaven and divine eternity. Therefore, choosing indigo for their wedding day represents an eternal commitment to their husbands. Additionally, the dress is usually quite simple and is often worn to church and other community events after they are married.
Amish Women Don’t Use Electricity
The Amish community never uses electricity. They believe that to be close to God, one must separate oneself from the world and maintain complete self-sufficiency, and electricity goes against this mission.
When electricity was first invented, it simply meant the Amish didn’t use lightbulbs but candles and lanterns instead. However, now it means that the Amish do not use televisions, the internet, vacuums, or any other device that plugs into a wall.
Makeup Is Forbidden in the Amish Community
Amish women do their best to dress as simply as possible as they believe that this shows God their dedication to their faith and their separation from the world.
This display of humility through their attire also applies to makeup; Amish women are completely forbidden from wearing makeup, cosmetics, or jewelry.
Amish Women Cannot Pose for Photographs
Technically, photographs are not against their religion, which is why there are some photos of members of the Amish community. However, they are not permitted to pose for a photograph.
Amish people believe that posing for photos is an example of vanity, and therefore, they hardly ever look directly at the camera or take photographs of themselves or their families.
