Under the Veil: Women's Head Coverings in Tudor England

This thesis seeks to discover and analyze the agency and meaning of the role of women’s head coverings and veils within the context of Tudor Christianity, society, and the fashion world of English culture. By observing the usage of the veil through various lenses, this thesis examines the nuance of the veil as an object and actor in Tudor society that enables yet prohibits personal choice for women. This research uses various sources such as Tudor paintings and portraits, surviving pieces of garments, and written accounts to paint a picture of the impact and significance the veil had in every woman’s life. The evidence concludes that society tended to utilize the veil in a manner to suppress women in their expression of their sexuality, yet women appropriated the veil to empower themselves to be able to control the way in which they were perceived in the public eye when it came to wealth, fashion, and religion.