In the Middle Ages two things determined one's opportunities in life--gender and social class. Throughout history upper class men have had more chances to move up in life, while women of all classes (especially the poor) did not have many opportunities to change their status. Women's choices and opportunities were different according to social status--upper classes (nobility), middle classes (guildswomen, merchants wives) and the poorest classes of the country and town. Women of the upper classes found it difficult to move up outside of marriage although they had more opportunities because…
