In Shakespearean time, the women in society were supposed to be seen and not heard. Their opinion did not count and was not asked for, especially in public meeting. The roles of women in society were very limited. The Elizabethans (people in Shakesperean/Elizabethan time) had well defined expectations of men and women, and generally, the men were expected to be the 'breadwinners' of the family and the women were the housewives and mothers. Also, a woman, in addition to being female, also had to be feminine.