A trip to an Amish settlement can feel like a journey back in time. Most Amish communities reside in North America, but the lifestyle they lead is a world away from most of the USA. These Anabaptist Christians with Swiss-German and Alsatian roots live a very simple and holy life.

They shun modern technology and instead focus on their faith, family life, rural labour and self-sufficiency. Men and women live under strict but separate sets of rules, with any disobedient folk at risk of ex-communication. Here are some of the rules Amish women have to follow if they wish to stay in the community.

No Buttons

In many Amish communities, buttons are viewed as too ornate and showy for modest dressing. Instead, women use straight pins or hook-and-eye fastenings to keep their clothing in place. The rest of an Amish women’s outfit consists of a single-coloured dress with long sleeves, a long skirt, a cape and an apron.

Bundling

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Bundling, also known as tarrying, is a courtship practice. A couple lies in bed together while separated by a wooden board, fully clothed, and they simply have a conversation and get to know each other better. Bundling is a tradition mostly practised by the Nebraska Amish, who are among the most conservative of all Amish people.

Sleeve Length

Amish women must dress in outfits that cover their forearms, and typically wear long-sleeved dresses. This practice arises from Amish Christian beliefs surrounding modesty and humility. In recent years, some communities have begun accepting short-sleeved garments for women – but never sleeveless.

No Cutting Hair

“Since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head,” Corinthians 11:6 states in the Bible. Amish women follow this rule, and will often go a lifetime without a haircut, instead pinning it into a bun and hiding it behind a cap known as a ‘prayer cover’, plus a bonnet.

No Doll Faces

Rules against modern technology mean that most children’s playthings are handmade in Amish communities. This task often falls to mothers, who must make sure that any dolls have no faces and are wearing Amish clothing. The first of these rules exists to avoid creating ‘graven images’, as is forbidden in the Bible.

Rumspringa

Given the introspective lifestyle of the Amish, Rumspringa may come as something of a surprise to outsiders. Rumspringa is a term referring to adolescence, and it involves a temporary relaxation of some community rules for teenage girls and boys. Afterwards, these teens can choose whether to stay in the church or join the outside world. Contrary to popular belief, Rumspringa does not necessarily involve a trip away from the community.

No Accessories

In keeping with the rules of modesty and humility, Amish women do not wear jewellery or other accessories. In fact, Amish dresses are somewhat like a uniform, as they avoid drawing attention to any particular person. Whether at home or in public, accessories are viewed as a flashy show of vanity and worldliness.

Hemline Rule

Many Amish communities dictate how long a woman’s dress skirt must be. Short skirts or any hemline above the calf are an absolute no. However, Amish women rarely wear full-length dresses either. With the culture’s focus on manual and rural labour, any hemline sweeping the ground would soon grow very dirty.

No High Ranks

Women hold very few positions of power in Amish society. They are banned from becoming bishops, preachers or deacons within the church. One of the few career paths available is to become a community teacher – although this role is mostly filled by young, unmarried women.

Cooking And Cleaning

Whether it’s cooking, cleaning, sewing, ironing or child-minding, women take on the vast majority of domestic work in Amish communities. Rural labour is considered to be a man’s job – although women will often help out around the farm in addition to their many household chores.

Many Children

Raising a family is the most important task for any Amish woman, and having children is even believed to be a spiritual calling – within the confines of marriage. Many Amish people believe in ‘Quiverfull’, a theological claim that large families are a blessing from God.

Be Submissive

Amish life is maintained by the Ordnung, a set of rules that varies between communities. Women have the right to vote on Ordnung affairs – but they are also expected to be submissive towards men, and to obey their fathers, husbands and ultimately their grown sons. It is a highly patriarchal society.

Kapps

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Also known as prayer coverings, kapps are a Christian head-covering worn by Amish women. They are donned as a sign of modesty as you leave the house in the morning, and they cover most of the hair and are held in place with pins. The front and back of the kapp are called the fedderdale and hinnerdale respectively.

No Pictures

Photographs present three problems for Amish communities. Firstly, they create a ‘graven image’ as forbidden in the Bible. Secondly, they may encourage vanity. And thirdly, they require modern technology. As a result, women in Amish settlements never take photos, and a camera is a rare sight in Amish neighbourhoods.

No Bump Celebrations

Although Amish life is highly focused on family, a pregnancy isn’t celebrated with the jubilance you might expect. Instead, women are expected to stay modest even when they are expecting a baby – and this means no baby showers or parties. Pregnant woman carry on with their everyday tasks and do not make a big fuss about the upcoming birth.

No Birds and Bees

Amish mothers rarely discuss the birds and the bees with children or teens. Likewise, sex education is not covered in Amish schools. Instead, any questions from curious youngsters are ignored, in the belief that sex should only be discussed within married life. Premarital sex is absolutely banned.

Keep the Money

Girls’ education is not valued highly in Amish society. It is thought that formal education is largely unnecessary if a girl is to become a homemaker and mother. Most girls only attend school till eighth grade, and they do not spend as many years in school as their male peers.

No Purchasing Power

Amish women are allowed and often encouraged to have other enterprises beyond the home. They may even run their own businesses. But all of their earnings must go back into the household. What’s more, it is considered shameful for a woman to earn more than her husband.

Their Wedding Dresses Aren’t White

Amish brides never adorn themselves with lace, jewellery and ornate veils as other brides do. In fact, they even forgo the iconic white wedding dress. White rarely enters the wardrobes of Amish women anyway due to their household work, and an ordinary, everyday dress is worn by the Amish lady on her wedding day. Blue and indigo are popular shades.

They Rarely if Ever Wear Makeup

Like modern clothing and accessories, makeup is considered a threat to Amish tradition and religious beliefs. Women do not wear cosmetics because it is believed to promote vanity. Amish folk are sometimes nicknamed the ‘Plain People’ because of their extremely simple way of dressing.

Working Outside The Home

Although Amish women can run their own businesses and make extra household income, their primary role is always at home. They will also typically quit any form of external work when their children are young. Men, meanwhile, often work in carpentry and agriculture.

Expected to get Married

Amish dating is serious: marriage is always the ultimate goal. Couples who realise they aren’t compatible for marriage will soon split and begin courting elsewhere. This culture does not practise arranged marriages, but Amish women must marry a man who is also an Anabaptist Christian. Same-sex relationships and divorce are both viewed as sinful.

Be Selfless

Amish women push their own needs aside in order to care for their families. They must carry out household work and support their husbands wherever asked. What’s more, they are expected to help the entire community. They take on the burden of a neighbour’s laundry, childminding, cooking or cleaning without a word of complaint.

Seeking Husband’s Approval

Despite running the household and tending to the whole family’s needs, Amish women are still not in charge at home. On the contrary, they must seek their husbands’ permission in any major decision or purchase. Any rebellion against the patriarchal system is seen as disrespectful and counter to the Amish faith.

Wedding Dress In Church

As well as shunning white gowns, Amish brides must prove that their wedding dress can be re-used for everyday occasions. Many Amish women will wear their wedding dress to church services for many years afterwards. Amish women sew their own clothes, and any garment must be durable and put to good use.