Answer :
Final answer:
Attitudes toward European women from the Reformation through the Enlightenment experienced both continuities, such as the emphasis on domestic roles, and changes, including the rise of feminist thought with advocates like Mary Wollstonecraft. The period was marked by gradual shifts toward recognizing women's intellectual capabilities and advocating for their rights, though traditional views persisted.
Explanation:
The attitudes toward and experiences of European women from the Reformation through the Enlightenment saw both continuities and changes. During the Reformation, which began in the 16th century, women found their roles largely confined to the domestic sphere, though the new Protestant emphasis on reading the Bible allowed for some level of intellectual engagement. However, the Catholic Counter-Reformation worked to reinforce traditional roles and diminish these newfound opportunities.
By the time of the Enlightenment in the 18th century, ideas about women's roles began to shift more noticeably. Philosophers like John Locke and Mary Wollstonecraft advocated for education and rights for women to varying degrees. Wollstonecraft, in particular, is celebrated as an early feminist thinker whose works called for equality in education and social rights, addressing the conditions of women in society.
Despite these progressive views, many Enlightenment thinkers, including Rousseau, held traditional views on women's roles, stressing their place in the home. The experience of European women during this period, therefore, was one of gradual transition, with persistent constraints layered with emerging notions of equality and rights.