If women were to be published they would have had to have the assistance of a male hand. They were never permitted to publish on behalf of themselves. It is evident that Bradstreet is steadily pushing against the established boundary for women and perhaps not simply pushing the boundary but collapsing it completely. As it is apparent in Nathaniel Ward's introduction to Bradstreet's "The Tenth Muse," "And chode buy Chaucers Boots, and Homers Furrs, / Let men loot to't, lest women wear the Spurs" (lines 15-18). Ward is stating how Bradstreet is doing something that is not of her proper role and thus putting on "spurs" and item of clothing used for horse back riding and reserved only for men. .
Bradstreet is knowingly aware that she is doing something that is out of the norm. She states in "The Prologue," "I am obnoxious to each carping tongue/ Who say my hand a needle better fits," (lines 25-26). It is clear here that Bradstreet is aware that she is expected to be doing tasks that are fit for a woman in this example, sewing. This line can be seen as a response to or anticipation of Ward's introduction to "The Tenth Muse." Ward suggest that she is wearing an item of clothing that is reserved for males, and Bradstreet responds back by questioning Ward if her hand is better fit to sew (Harvey). Ward's comment can be seen as a mockery of Bradstreet, implying that she is cross-dressing and wearing men's clothing because she is partaking in something that has been reserved for men.
The life of Bradstreet seemed to reflect the values of her society, she was a devoted wife and mother which were both acceptable, however Bradstreet was also illegitimate. Bradstreet demonstrates that she has knowledge of this illegitimacy in her work "The Author to her book". In this work of Bradstreet's she is relating her poetry writing to that of a child. "If for thy father asked, say thou hadst none; / And for thy mother she alas is poor, / Which cause her thus to send thee out the door" (lines 22-24).
