Women In Second Wave Civilizations

"Changing attitudes in Britain Society towards women was the major reason why some women received the vote in 1918". How accurate is this view?

Women in ancient Rome and China were very different but quite similar as for as their treatment and roles were concerned. In both cultures they were under the protection of their fathers until they married. When they married they were to stay home and be wives, they were not formally educated and learned to manage their households. They were not allowed to disgrace their families in any way and were inferior to men from the moment of birth. Chinese women whether from a noble or a poor family could not escape oppression, but it was somewhat easier for the women from Noble families. (8) Comparing the women of Ancient Rome (750BC – AD500) and the women of China (350BC – AD600), from the roles they played in

Women living during the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty lived in a society where gender roles were strictly imposed. The Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty existed in two distinctive time periods, but the roles of women were indistinguishable between the pair. The Han Dynasty existed from 206 BCE-220 CE, while the Roman Empire lasted from 27 CE-476 CE. The treatment women received in the Han and Roman societies were all based on gender and stereotypes. Women’s roles in marriage, domestic life, and society in the Roman Empire and Han China portrayed their limited freedom and voice.

The key similarities between the two waves of civilizations are important and were continued throughout history even further than the empires of the second wave. These similarities included slavery, treatment of women, and the patriarch and monarch rulers; these similarities were intertwined in both waves. Hierarchies of gender declared that women and men were not equal because “to be gendered as masculine or feminine defines the roles and behavior considered appropriate for men and women in every human community.” The hierarchy of gender led to the creation of patriarchy, the concept that women are lesser or subordinate to men in all aspects of life. This idea of patriarchy meant sons were valued more than daughters, men had more opportunities in society and with jobs, the opportunity to rule, and men were the heads of their households. However, this wasn’t true for every society, even in the first civilizations there were cities and groups of people living within some states that allowed women to do what they wanted to do out in society. The Egyptians were a good example of equality as women were legally viewed equal to men. They were able to own land and slaves, initiate divorce, and rarely they would reach the position of queen, the most famous being Hatshepsut. On the more extreme side, in ancient Mesopotamia, patriarchy took root quickly in the form of actual written law. The code of Hammurabi was created in 1750 B.C.E. creating very submissive laws for

Women have played important roles throughout history. They have been responsible for the rise and fall of nations, sustaining families, and have been the focal point of worship in ancient religions. Moving forward in history, women's roles have continually changed. Their status as matriarchs changed as the more advanced ancient civilizations rose. The patriarchal societies of ancient Greece and Rome viewed women differently from some societies of past eras. The study of the economic and political status of women, their rights, and their contributions to both these ancient societies reveals how views change throughout history.

Cultural centers appeared at the end of the classic period, in the southwestern desert region and eastern river valleys

In today’s society, we as women often take for granted the rights, freedoms, and equality we share with men that women in the ancient world were not granted. As all civilisations in the ancient world exercised different treatment towards, this essay will illustrate a few comparisons in the status of women during ancient Egypt with women during ancient Rome. Academic sources will be relied on to provide the necessary actualities when one considers ancient civilizations. The legal status of women in society, the domestic atmospheres and roles that each unique region’s women held, and the possible occupations available to these women, will be discussed.

Women's lives, roles, and statuses changed over various early world history eras and culture areas in many ways. Ancient Persia, Paleolithic, Athens, Mesopotamian and Roman eras were all different in very unique ways. The Paleolithic era treated women fairly and were treated equally. During the Neolithic era women were not treated fairly. She was the daughter of her father or the wife of her husband. Women rarely acted as individuals outside the context of their families. Those who did so were usually royalty or the wives of men who had power and status.” (oi.uchicago.edu, 2010) Athenian women were not treated fairly

According to Strayer, women in Sparta were “serving as breeding machines for its military system and lacking any formal role in public life…”(240). This portrays that the women’s role lied in their household, not in public life. This is the reason why women continued to be subordinate to men. According to Strayer, in both, Indian and Chinese second-wave civilizations, “birth determined social status for most people; little social mobility was available for the vast majority; sharp distinctions and great inequalities characterized social life”(224). It is important to remember that the social hierarchies in first and second wave civilizations provided social order and stability.

As we have learned from history, women generally do not have the same equal rights as men do. In fact, it is rare to find a time in history, where both men and women were seen as equal people and given the same rights. During this course, we have studied several civilizations that do not practice equality for both genders. One primary example is the Athenian Civilization and how their women did not have natural rights, they were seen as housewives, and their husbands decided their freedom. This image of women is one that is constantly seen throughout history, and can even be found in some societies in today’s world.

One of the most prominent examples of this is the ancient civilizations of Greece and India. Women in Classical Greece and India were treated very differently. Nevertheless, because of their representation in history, how they are perceived in their respective religions, and how the duty of women has evolved over time all show that ancient civilizations greatly influenced the role of women in today’s society. During ancient times, women in Classical Greece and India had specific domestic roles which inhibited their role in the community.

McCune 1 In the ancient time’s women’s roles in civilizations were drastically different than they are today. In certain civilizations women had no independence, political power, economic status or education. While in others women were granted some of those privileges. Although no women in any civilization in ancient history were valued greater than the males in society certain civilizations valued women more than others.

Many of the historical sources from this ancient world have been lost or destroyed by time and war. But thanks to sources such a Sappho 's poetry and the image of women as strong and central characters through many of the greek epics as evidence, we are able to draw some conclusions as to the life of woman in Ancient Greek world. From what we know of the classical greek culture, women were most often subservient to men throughout their lives; first to their fathers and brothers, then to their husbands and sons. Although, the role of women often differed between city-states and through the ranks of social standing and class.

Even in the first civilizations sexsim was very prevalent, women were not included in democracy, they were not allowed to vote, and in some earlier civilizations women were not even allowed to have a job or go outside the home. Even as a 16 year old girl in America, the supposed land of dreams, I see sexism everyday. I see it when I watch the news, I see it when I’m walking down the halls at my school, I even see it when I read novels and articles or watch a movie online. Over 60% of serious journalism roles are given to males, while the women are left with the less important, or less popular sections. In school I see boys calling girls stupid, or girls getting a pass to go to their locker because they forgot something, even though a boy

During world civilization, men and women lived in an egalitarian system. However, the introduction of Agriculture changed that forever. Once men began hunting and women started gathering, the men considered what the women do as an easy job. This is when the world began to collapse in terms of gender discrimination and inequality. This unequal system continued throughout centuries and still exists today. However during the 15th &16th century everything changed and women were more suppressed than ever. They were viewed as an object that were to be used by men. Many women didn’t get the education they deserved unless they were from a privileged family. Even the privileged women had very little opportunity to make a living for themselves. They were seen as a prize. Most women were expected to stay virtuous then marry into a rich man. Despite the fact, many women were courageous enough to defy stereotypes and make the world a better place to live for themselves and other women.