Final answer:
In the Ottoman Empire, women's opportunities and status varied based on their class. Elite and middle-class women had rights to property, while working-class women engaged in trades and peasant women assisted in farm chores. Women's involvement in politics was limited, except for the sultan's mother or wife. Non-Muslim women served in the sultan's harem, ranked according to a strict hierarchy.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the Ottoman Empire, the status of women varied depending on their class. Elite and middle-class women had opportunities to own property, bequeath their wealth, borrow and lend money, and sue for their rights in court. They were primarily occupied with raising children and managing households. On the other hand, women from the working class engaged in trades like nursing, dancing, and laundry services. They could also manufacture goods and sell them in the streets. Peasant women had different responsibilities, including assisting in farm chores.
However, women in the Ottoman Empire had limited involvement in politics, with the exception of the sultan's mother or wife. Non-Muslim women, particularly those from foreign lands, were often enslaved and served in the sultan's harem. They were ranked based on a hierarchy and could gain power through talent and length of service. Nevertheless, most women in the harem remained servants and were eventually released and married off to palace officials. Eunuchs, castrated men who managed the household and the harem, exerted significant control and power within this system.