Role of Women until 1500 - Research Paper Example

Introduction Women have a significant role in the society, during the present times as with the ancient times. Though believed to be subordinate withmen, this does not deny the fact that their role still has an impact in the societal make-up. However, prior to 1500s, the role of women are mostly restricted and limited to the family and household. Following this introduction shows how the roles of women vary or are similar between the traditional India, Africa and China. India In India, the role of women has been differentiated into two periods: during the age of Vedas, that is prior to 1500 B.C., and after 1500 B.C. The difference focused on the amount of freedom given to women. Prior to the Vedas age, women were well taken care of but there were no opportunities for them to own properties. Their status was subordinate to men. During the Vedas age, women were of equivalent status with men. There have been fewer restrictions in a woman’s freedom at that time. Women have an active role, not only in managing the household but also in managing agriculture and crafts that bring business and money in for the family. The primary reason for this is that men were unavailable because of the wars at that time. And so women are allowed and given the chance to take care of the economic aspect of their families. As the years pass by, women gained more mobility and freedom though still tied to their roles as wives to their husbands. Though they had acquired freedom in education, career and independence, they were still seen as the counterparts of men, establishing the fact that women’s primary role is to be a partner to their husbands. Men and women have joint ownership on properties and estates. Women had the right to inheritance and to own properties as men had. Women are allowed to participate in intellectual discussions. High-class women of the society are well-educated. Women are not limited to their careers as wives and mothers. They were part of the working class. Society allowed them to nurture and pursue careers that they have longed studied and mastered. Women were also free to participate in religious ceremonies. Even if the wife is supposed to be the caretaker of the husband and the family, a counterpart of the husband, their role were significant as to understanding that a home is incomplete without the wife who manages it. Before the 1500s arrived, changes in the roles and position of women happened. At the time when war was rampant, the duty of the women to bear sons was important. 500 B.C. to 500 A.D. were better times when war was over. During these times, the role of women diminished because more men were not needed. Also, since there was no war, men were available to perform their tasks and responsibilities, in the society and in their families. When prior those days, women were outside tending to their living, women started to live within the restrictions of family work, and that is to take care of the family, the household and her husband. One positive move that happened during this time was the permission granted to widows to own property in replacement on remarrying (Rahman and Gupta, 2005). Since it was prohibited for women to remarry when their husbands die or divorce them, they were permitted own property so they can take care of themselves when they are left alone by their husbands. Women were considered inferior, having no significance and value which were kept in a state of subordination and subjection. There were given no rights, and rights were taken away from them. Though their household management skills were considered to be significant in maintaining the family, it wasn’t enough to take away the legal and social constraints that bind their identities (Duiker and Spielvoger, 2008). The patriarchal joint family, the customs of Polygamy and Purdah, the property structure, early marriage and Sati, or state of permanent widowhood, contributed to limiting the freedom and development of women (Rahman and Gupta, 2005). Women were considered only as a wife, who is supposed to follow her husband, and a mother, who is supposed to take care of her sons. And these roles are taken for granted by the society, by which, the society sees as insignificant or irrelevant in the development and progress of the society. Africa The roles and positions of women in the African society were considered as a general part of the subordination of women because of the sex and gender division prominent in the society. Also, the conflicting classes which divides the African society has a significant impact in the roles of African women. Women in Africa have a significant role in the religious ceremonies (Sharma, 1989). This can be seen in the many rituals that only women can perform. Women take part in the Public Councils of the Tribe, much like a governing body in pre-colonial era. They have been the glue that held the community together because of their storytelling capabilities and ability to pass on tradition. They have been the purveyors of the moral values and religious beliefs of African societies (Duiker and Speilvoger, 2008). Women also have a great role in the economic standing of the society and their families. They have been the backbone of the agricultural economy, which was the primary way of living of pre-colonial days (Sharma, 1989). In contrast, men were occupied with livestock, hunting or war (Sharma, 1989). Though in times were there were no wars, men and women cultivate the fields together. The only time that women handle these responsibilities alone was when there is a need for warriors and soldiers for war and traders for long trading journeys. The maximum contribution of women in productive labor actually formed the pillars of the African society (Sharma, 1989). The social organization of production and family organization is closely associated. The most powerful means of production by women is being able to produce the producers. African women were responsible for increasing the lineage of their families (Duiker and Spielvogel, 2008). But this role obscured their significance in the other aspects of the society. Gaining independence in the economic field actually diminishes their role and significance in the society. It is shown that this independence is brought about by necessity rather than a right given to women (Sharma, 1989). The role of women is to take care of the well-being of their families, and that include producing the food on the table and serving it to her family. The traditional African family is polygamous. Men could acquire several wives because of the production capacity and capability of women. This tradition shows well enough how women are taken for granted are used for their production capabilities. This actually restricts women with an equal status with men (Sharma, 1989). The socio-cultural traditions of the African society actually discouraged the development and independence of the women. Part of their socialization process is to actually be stoic about their situation and accept discrimination as part of their role in the society (Sharma, 1989). China Males are considered superior and more significant in ancient China. This has been reinforced by Neo-Confucianism (Duiker and Spielvoger, 2008). Women are considered useless and undesirable since they can’t take on heavy workload as men or carry on family traditions because they are weak and when wed integrates with the men’s family. One of the traditions that shows the inferiority and subordination of women is the foot binding (Duiker and Spielvoger, 2008). This has been a sign of submissiveness and subordination. The feet are bound in restrictive bandages, a painful experience for girls. This tradition started in order to assure the men of the submissiveness of their wives. The smaller the feet are, the more submissive the girls are. The main role of women is to raise children and serve their households (Duiker and Spielvoger). This has been embedded in Chinese myths and can be traced back to prehistoric Chinese times. The subordination of women proved to be compatible with Confucianism as it professes the lowly role of women (Bulliet, et.al., 2007). Women take on the responsibility of handling and managing the household, especially in their husband’s absence because of businesses and trades. But while the women attend to their families’ household and properties, they were not able to take care of their own properties, in which are turned over to their husbands at the time of their integration with his family. The Chinese traditional family is mainly patriarchal by which all the decisions and authority is handled by the father (Bulliet, et.al., 2007). Conclusion Previous discussions show the similarities and few differences of the traditional India, Africa and China regarding the role of women. Ancient and traditional times prior to the 1500s indicate the role of women are limited and restricted to their households, that is managing their homes, taking care of their husbands and children and reproduction. Main differences can be seen in how the African society considers women as the purveyors of their tradition and how Chinese and Indian societies see women in terms of their religious teachings. It can be considered that women’s status, role and significance prior to the 1500s is limited and restricted to the gender and sex divisions of the society. The class divisions has little impact to their roles as throughout the society, they are seen only for reproduction and for household management. They have no significant impact in the economic standing of the society, except for the Africans who look into the production capacity of women. Over all, women are seen as just mere caretakers of the dominant gender of the society. They are slaves of their sex and gender. Though this can be seen as unfair for women, this can be seen in another perspective. Their roles, even how submissive and low it may be compared with the dominant roles of men, bring significant impact in molding future generations in terms of the traditions and values of the society. though it may seem that they perpetuate the same line of thinking, the roles of women prior to the 1500s paved way for women of today to realize their value and how much important their role is in making the community intact. References Bulliet, R., et.al. (2007). The earth and its people: a global history to 1550, 4th ed. New York: Cengage Learning. Duiker, W. and Spielvogel, J. (2008). Wolrd history to 1500, 6th ed. New York: Cengage Learning. Rahman, Z. and Gupta, R. (2005). Women and society. New Delhi: Kalpaz Publications. Sharma, K. (1989). Women of Africa: their role and position in society. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. Read More