By Kenya Harris

Eleanor stood at the doorstep of the merchant’s grand stone house, the weight of unfamiliar expectations settling heavily upon her. She couldn’t understand why her parents had chosen to send her away from the familiar comforts of her own home. At just thirteen, Eleanor is sent to work in a merchant’s household—a decision that marks the beginning of a life shaped more by duty than by her own desires. The journey from her family’s small, rural cottage to the bustling town seemed to scratch endlessly behind her, fading into memories of simple meals by the fire and nights filled with tales shared with her many siblings. A new chapter lay before her with newfound family needs and societal demands—burdens pressing her young shoulders. 

For children like Eleanor, the move into adulthood came quickly and, by modern standards, quite abruptly. Adolescence as a time of self-discovery and guidance was not a known concept during this era. Instead, young people were expected to contribute to the household economy, often through work that involved apprenticeship. Eleanor’s family, like many at the time, faced pressures—both financial and social—to send her away to learn the skills needed to support a family of her own one day. Parents of the medieval time often sent their children off in order to have one less mouth to feed within the home, easing the financial weight. 

Settling into her role, Eleanor finds the daily routine demanding. Each morning, she rises before dawn, her hands would become rough from tasks like scrubbing, chopping, and sewing. At home, she might have resisted such work, finding comfort in the presence of her mother and the familiarity of her surroundings. Here, however, there is no room for comfort or complaints. Her work is closely monitored and mistakes often quickly corrected with reprimand. Free time becomes rare, and thoughts of home come only in quiet moments of the night on her straw mattress. 

The isolation of apprenticeship was quite as difficult as the work itself. In medieval Europe, apprenticeships were not just about learning skills but also served as a rite of passage into a life of discipline and service. Parents believed that placing children in another household would shape their character—-a strict approach according to modern day standards. In a time of economic uncertainty, this practice aimed to prepare young people for survival and independence. 

Eleanor, a character taken only from fiction for the purpose of this article, is an accurate depiction of the lives of many young females across northern Europe. Children as young as seven or eight—or more often in their early teens—were raised in the unfamiliar household of merchants. Families took on the notion that it taught the ruthless individuals discipline and most importantly gave leeway to financial stress. Even the weighted families of the time believed in the independence of allowing children to work as an essential preparation for adulthood. 

Young girls were often left with extremely high expectations when given apprenticeship because it often led to marriage. Girls who had the ability to advance their skills were then prepared for roles as wives and mothers. Teenage pregnancies were common, and though these early marriages likely carried an emotional toil on their mental health, they often went unrecognized. Society then was not keen on psychological stressors and mental health. Instead they chose to keep such things a secret; depression or anxiety were unnamed psychological terms which left many to simply carry the burden of their own mental weight.

Historians like Shulamith Shahar observed that apprenticeships also served to keep the teens in line, curbing the energy and independence that might otherwise challenge the authority of the man of the house. For Eleanor and others, personal hopes often gave way to social expectations. The boundaries set by tradition and duty left little room for questions about these roles, although the quiet dreams they harbored showed a common desire for choice.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26289459