One of the biggest changes in women's roles during the reformation was the closure of the convents for women, which had until then provided an alternative role for women to that of a wife and mother. The biblical ideal of women as seen by the reformers was that of a wife and a mother, and the nuns were encouraged to leave the convents and marry. In areas where convents were closed, this eliminated the option of a full-time religious role for Protestant women. While men still had the option of becoming a clergyman, the ideal role for a woman was now only that of a wife.