The rights of widows were formally laid down in law by the end of the twelfth century, clarifying the right of free women to own property, but this did not necessarily prevent women from being forcibly remarried against their wishes. The rights and roles of women became more sharply defined, in part as a result of the development of the feudal system and the expansion of the English legal system some women benefited from this, while others lost out. After the Norman invasion, the position of women in society changed. Significant gender inequities persisted throughout the period, as women typically had more limited life-choices, access to employment and trade, and legal rights than men. She identifies a deterioration the status of women in the Middle Ages, although they retained strong roles in culture and spirituality. Henrietta Leyser argues that women had much informal power in their homes and communities, although they were of officially subordinate to men. However, the position of women varied according to factors including their social class whether they were unmarried, married, widowed or remarried and in which part of the country they lived. Medieval England was a patriarchal society and the lives of women were heavily influenced by contemporary beliefs about gender and authority. 1170 using a spindle and distaff, while caring for a young child
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