In the context of courtship, women like Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour may briefly hold power in their relationships, influencing their suitors and enjoying a sense of agency. However, this fleeting advantage quickly dissipates once marriage occurs, as societal expectations demand that they conform to traditional roles and submit to their husbands' authority.

Alison Weir’s book "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" illustrates how the dynamics of power shifted after marriage for these women, highlighting the risks they faced if they failed to adapt to the restrictive norms imposed upon them. This underscores the limited options women navigated in their relationships during this historical period.