To modern observers, the traditional structure of an Amish household might appear strictly patriarchal. While husbands and wives fill distinct, traditional gender roles based on Biblical interpretations, an Amish marriage operates as a deeply respectful, interdependent economic partnership.
Roles and Responsibilities
- The Husband: Serves as the spiritual head of the home, primary breadwinner (farming, woodworking, or trades), and manages heavy outdoor machinery and livestock.
- The Wife: Manages the domestic household, manages financial record-keeping for home gardens, cooks meals for large family gatherings, sews family clothing, and oversees child rearing.
Mutual Respect and Mutual Decision Making
In practice, major decisions—such as starting a new business, buying property, or guiding children through Rumspringa—are made jointly through private consultation between husband and wife. Neither partner is viewed as spiritually superior; both are essential to the survival of the family farm and home.