Semester begins Feb 20/ AP exam May 17th
Topic #2 continued . . . World Trade, 500 CE to present
C. Afro-Eurasian trade networks (week of Feb 20th and 27th)
D. European Empires and Global Trade (connections with Topic#1?) Wallerstein and dependency theory (week of Feb 27th)
E. World trade since 1945/ Globalization and the World is Flat? (week of march 5th)
Spring Break, 10-26 March
AP World History Review the week we get back from break until the AP exam on May 17th
Most of the things on list below involve you, the students, taking the initiative (see below).
I will present on two things that help you on the AP exam:
(1) the controversy of periodization in world history (why 600 CE? or 1450 as opposed to 1500? Did the road to Pearl Harbor begin in 1931?) and
(2) the relevance of world history (the structure of global politics and the economic system have their roots in the past. But is there another “lesson” to be learned that will allow humanity to cooperate in the face of the array of global problems that confront the world?).
- Check e-portfolios (click here)/ two weeks before AP=A on a test grade, day before=B+/ after=C/incomplete=D
- Peterson review book, chps 6-10= 5 quizzes, one quiz every week on chapters 6-10.
- Multiple-choice test= practice followed by one that counts as a test grade
- One DBQ, one change and continuity 0ver time essay, and one comparative essay (you must write three essays from Peterson review book in class, one of these essay will count as an essay grade, I will randomly choose the essay for grading)
- Gather all of your essays and test from this year’s class; gather sample essays from past students and/or this year’s students (read every one of them in the order we did them); read over your Impact Charts and your e-portfolios
- Women in World History Blog assignment:
1. Students in the D period class (2001-2002) came up with the following thesis: Women from 1000 to about the late 1800s must be looked at in terms of elite vs. women in general. Elite women have had access to power during this time, mostly during crisis. Most women, however, have been treated as “second class citizens.” Determine whether or not the thesis works. Add your responses to the thesis re: the role of women in Europe and China here, as a comment to this page.
Don’t forget about part II–re: other regions below (does the thesis apply to other regions?) and then explain whether or not the thesis works for the 20th century.
Topics re: Women in World History
Mongols and Women
Mary Wollstonecraft
Heads of State in the 20th Century
Indria Gandhi
War and Women
2. Research the topics below and find out if the thesis works (or does not) for other regions (1000 to 1800′s). Also determine whether or not it works for the 20th century. You may look at other sources, after you’ve looked at the topics above please.
* * *
Add videos like these to your e-portfolio video libraries; they can help (see below),
World History AP Exam, Thursday, May 17
GOOD LUCK.
Don’t forget to relax too, relax under pressure–think of Frank
Throughout most of history, societal imbalances have been a major cause of conflict. Preconceptions regarding race, creed, and gender are at the root of many imbalances, facilitated by religion or unequal distribution of power. In China and Europe from 1000 to the suffrage movements of late 1800s, women were largely treated as second class citizens regardless of their societal stations. The role of woman varied depending on wealth and familial power, but virtually all of them were subject to domination by males. Take, for example, Victorian England. During this era, women were expected to remain in a constant state of composure and docility; politeness and social ritual were paramount to acceptance. They had few responsibilities other than closely following this behavioral code, as household duties were performed by servants. Although Victorian women did have access to education and even a certain amount of respect, they were severely limited in terms of the opportunities presented to them. Women did not have the right to vote or even to own property, leaving them totally reliant on their relations or spouse. Although well educated and respected, an elite woman was unable to exert much power over her fate. In China’s imperial courts, elite women were treated in a similar fashion. Confucianism was an extremely popular philosophy among the members of the court, so the system’s “5 relationships” were important and prevalent. Some of these rules govern relationships between men and woman, clearly establishing men as being superior. This tenant of Confucianism tempered men’s attitudes towards the women of the court. Although they were pampered and attended to, the women were restricted in an even more severe fashion. The wives of statesmen and nobles were isolated from the palace’s men, often kept in limited-access private chambers. The only people that these women would be allowed contact with were their attendants, family, and spouse. They were treated as royalty, but not as human beings. In both Victorian England and Imperial China, women were treated as possessions by their elite spouses, on whom they were entirely reliant. However, women of common birth were treated in a distinctly different fashion. As their familial units lacked the wealth of the elite, poorer women were relied upon to raise children and attend to the household. In an era where mothers might have borne as many as a dozen children, household maintenance was a formidable proposition. They were therefore seen as contributing members of the family, and were treated as such. Although they still lacked basic societal rights, these women had an opportunity to participate in the micro-economy of the home. Although they may have had access to education and respect, the majority of wealthy women had no access to any political power. Rather, they were seen as possessions or vassals to their male relations. Lower class women, however, were able to contribute to their family and were therefore not objectified to the same extent.
Around the rest of the world, the role of woman varied greatly. In cultures such as Mongolia, women were able to hold high societal stations. However, in predominantly Islamic regions, women were often repressed and forced into subservient possessions. In Mongolia, women were able to hold positions on political councils and even as warriors. The role of a warrior has, throughout history and even today, generally been delegated to men, so the fact that women were given the opportunity is telling of Mongolia’s social character. Mongolia even had a female Great Khan for a time, a woman named Toregene. The circumstances of her rise to the throne are worth noting in this discussion, as she assumed control over the empire when her husband proved incompetent. Upon assuming total control over the empire following her husband’s death in 1241, Toregene fired her husband’s ministers and replaced them with her own, including several other women. Some of the subdivisions of Mongolia, including Northern China, Eastern Mongolia, and what is now Turkestan all had female rulers as well. The leader of one of these regions, a woman named Sorhokhtani, held considerable political clout for decades. One Mongol writer once stated that “if history produced only one more woman equal to Sorhokhtani, then women would have to be judged as the superior sex.” Women played an extremely important role in the administration of the Mongolian empire. However, only women of wealth and of noble birth were able to rule: woman of common birth filled roles similar to those of European and Chinese peasant women. Compared to the relatively progressive Mongols, the Ottoman empire was generally repressive with regards to women women. The Koran places women under men in political and social terms, meaning that women were—and are—sometimes (but not always) suppressed in Islamic theocracies. A Muslim man could have up to 4 wives, and was given complete control over them in every capacity. A variety of other restrictions were placed upon Ottoman women. Some of these restrictions apply to divorce, dress code, legal status and the legitimacy of legal testimony (A woman’s testimony was often counted as half a mans, as a woman’s mind was considered ‘deficient’), and access to education. Wealthy women were often put into harems similar to those employed in the Chinese court. As oppressive as some of these rules and regulations might have been, extremely wealthy women did have a few ways of exerting political power. Many patronized artists and funded the erection of buildings, such as the Yeni Valide mosque. Poorer Ottoman women were far less restricted, as they were often members of the workforce. However, many of the restrictions noted above still held for the impoverished.
Although the role of women has changed and advanced over the last millennium, many cultures still do not give women and men equal rights. In regions such as the Middle East, deep rooted cultural and theological sensibilities have sustained gender roles. Extremist groups such as the Taliban have taken the phenomenon even further, effectively designating women as subhuman. Even in well developed and “progressive” cultures, an income gap between men and women still exists. However, to say that women’s rights have not been improved is to disregard one of the most important cultural phenomena of the last two centuries. Suffragettes such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Susan B. Anthony have spearheaded movements leading to universal suffrage and political equality. Even cultures in troubled regions such as the Middle East have moved forward: Benazir Bhutto led Pakistan, whereas the United States is yet to have a female at the helm. In short, the role of women in society is an important and evolving issue, one that will continue to develop in the coming decades.
Be careful: the Qur’an is not easy to interpret (written in poetic verse and often in the form of allegory); the role of women varies throughout the Islamic world, and many scholars attribute the harsher traditions (wearing a veil) to “interpretation” of the Qur’an (interpretation by men in power mostly).
The Role of Women in Europe and China
The role of women in both Europe and China from 1000 to the late 1800s was not, as the 2001-2001 D period class determined, based on their societal ranking. This class said that women of higher social rank had more access to power, especially in times of crisis, while women of lower societal rank were treated as second-class citizens. However, in reality, regardless of their place on the social-rank ladder, women in Europe and China were treated as unimportant being with minimal power.
In China, Confucian policies required women to strictly obey their fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons, immersing them in a completely male-dominated world. They role was not of power or decision-making but, “always one of subservience” (Peterson 257). They did not have any power to lead in any time, crisis or peace. Also, Buddhism affected the role on women in China and Japan as they had the same policies as Confucianism, obedience of males. The role of women, according to Confucianism and Buddhism principles did not discriminate by the rank of women, they were all seen as second-class citizens to the men.
In England, although the principles were not enforced through religion, women of all ranks were still seen as second-class citizens. In the Victorian Age, women were idealized, etiquette was very important, and nothing distasteful was to be seen by women. Women of higher rank here were almost treated as less than women of lower ranks and they were supposed to be more proper, leading them to be even more ignorant and powerless. Women of lower rank had some sort of power within their own social class as they were more responsible for the well being and moneymaking for their families, giving them a sort of power not available to women of higher rank.
In other global regions, this idea of women being subordinate to men in all ways and lacking power holds true, although not always to the extent of Victorian England or Confucian China. In Mongolia, women were allowed to enter battle with their husbands and even hold some commanding roles. They were made the responsibility of taking care of the horses and sheep, the most important animals in Mongolian culture. They were also allowed to participate in sporting events. However, women were still seen as inferior beings who were not able to attain the full rank of a man, and most were seen as just mothers and herdswomen.
Mary Wollstonecraft, although a tough feminist, still lived in the world of female inferiority. She argued and wrote about how women were not actually inferior by nature, but only so because that they lacked the proper education of a man. She did not believe that women should simply be seen as property of a man but be able to work, make money, and have other civil rights that men had. However, Mary Wollstonecraft still lived in a world where she was not seen as equal to men, despite her arguments, showing still that regardless of what women thought, they were not important enough to be seen as first-class citizens having and impact on society.
However, the idea of women holding no power in society changed in the 20th century. Women were now able to attain roles of political power. Soong Ching-ling of China was the Vice-Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, and the first non-royal woman to officially becoming a head of state as the Co-Chairman of the People’s Republic of China. Not only was Soong Ching-ling a woman, but she was also a non-royal lower class citizen, completely changing the role of women in Chinese history. Women were able to take roles as presidents, captain regents, members of federal councils, as well as other roles in political office. This clearly shows that the thesis determined by the 2001-2001 D period class does not hold true to the 20th century. Women of all social classes were able to work their way up, or be born into, roles of power.
The thesis that states that from 1000 to about the late 1800’s were deemed inferior and considered second class citizens holds true in China, Victorian England and various places throughout the world. Though this thesis does not apply nearly as much to every day life in the 20th century, it can clearly be seen throughout history. Age, race, creed, and gender are all points of discrimination throughout history; though gender seems to have been prolonged the most. In China women were projected as inferior to men stemming from their main beliefs, which were held in their religion, Confucianism. Confucianism enforces the idea of the Five Relationships. The five relationships being ruler to subject, father to son, brother to younger brother, husband to wife, and friend-to-friend portrayed the women as menial. The five relationships outlined the way of life and duties each person in the community and nation needed to observe. Though women of noble and royal husbands were pampered with luxuries, they were shut off from the world and very restricted. They were given private chambers, which allude to a fanciful and immaculate life; instead it cut the women off from the rest of the world. In Victorian England, etiquette and manners were the main studies and duties for women. It was demanded of them to fit the sculpture of being polite and well- mannered women. They were give education and respect though it was very limited and restricted to women who held a higher stature and class. These women did not have the right to own property or even vote, a privilege that is taken for granted in modern times. Mary Wollstonecraft, an 18th century write and advocate of women’s right wanted to change the future of women and leave an impact on this unequal world. She proceeded to write the book, “A vindication of the Rights of Women” which affronted the theory that women were naturally inferior to men and gave the message that women are equal and deserve equal rights to men. In the late 1800’s, advancements in women’s rights finally came to England. In 1857, a law was passed that women were able to divorce their cruel husbands. And in 1870, women were allowed to keep all money that they had earned. As well as in 1891, women were given the right to leave her husband’s home if he was being cruel. In both China and England from 1000 to the late 1800’s, women were treated as their spouse’s possessions and they were not allowed any political power, though this soon changed.
Women from regions all over the world also felt this oppression, though some leaders fought for their rights. In Sri Lanka Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the first female prime minister and the world’s first female head of government, came to power in 1960. Bandaranaike was the widow of the previous Sri Lankan prime minister and took his place after his death. Bandaranaike made changes in the political world and created a better relationship between Sri Lanka and India. In India at this time, Benazir Bhutto became India’s first female prime minister (second in the world to Sirimavo Bandaranaike). In Mongolia, women were given warrior as well as political positions. A notable female leader of Mongolia is Torgene, women who was named the Great Khan of Mongolia due to her husband’s lack of leadership. As Mongolia spread, so did the rule of women. Under Torgene’s general lead, women became leaders of Mongolia’s sub nations of Northern China, Eastern Mongolia and Modern day Turkestan.
In the 20th century, women can hardly be called mistreated though there is not one hundred percent equality between men and women. Some places and people, including the Taliban, still discriminate against women. In general, women are given the same rights and regulations as men. Some discrimination can be noted, though minutely, in the income between men and women. Studies show that in 2007, “women earned 95 percent as much as men” (from article: Do women and Men earn equal pay in 2007? By Dr. Al Lee) even while holding the same position. The injustice’s between genders is uncommon and discrete in modern times though it can still be found on a much smaller scale than throughout history.
History is crippled with inequalities, whether it is regarding religion, race, status, wealth or gender. Woman’s suffrage is a major topic of history between 1000-1800 as equality movements and independence was changing the world in some areas, other areas the role of woman varied greatly. In civilizations such as the Mongols, women were treated respectfully in many aspects, while in places such as Imperial China, Victorian England and during the Ottoman Empire women suffrage was prevalent. Woman were not granted political power, such as the right to vote, until the 20th century and as a result had little influence over war. Therefore the 2001-2002 D period class thesis of elite woman vs. “second class citizens” is an accurate portrayal.
In imperial China, elite women were treated as possessions of their spouses. Confucius principles guided the relationships between men and woman, establishing men as superior. The women of Imperial China were faced with many severe restrictions such as often times being kept in limited-access private chambers, with the only people granted contact with were attendants, family, and spouse. On the other hand, Chinese woman of lower status were expected to raise children and keep after the house gaining the role of a contributing family member. Although neither societal group of women were allowed to participate in politics, the women from lower status were able to participate in the political demographics of their households. During the Victorian England era, etiquette and class were the main objective and duty for upper class women. It demanded these women to be identical to one another, matching in class and grace. They were given education and respect though it was very limited and restricted. These women also did not have the right to vote or be a property owner.
In Mongolian empire women had the right to uphold high societal positions such as, political councils, warriors and their advice was highly regarded by Genghis Khan himself. The Mongolian woman shared more freedom than other women of their time. They refused to take part in the Chinese practice of foot binding and the wearing of burqas. Also, Mongolian women were allowed to move freely in public. The Mongolian empire had a female ruler at one point as well, Toregene., who rose to power after her husband was proven incompetent. Some of the outskirts of the Mongolian empire including Northern China, Eastern Mongolia had female rulers as well. However, only women of wealth and of noble birth were able to rule. Woman of lesser status filled roles similar to those of European and Chinese peasant women. The Ottoman empire and the Islamic world placed woman under men in political and social fields. Women were foced to deal with many societal restrictions including dress code, legal status, divorce and education. Wealthier woman of the Ottoman Empire were treated similar to women of the Chinese courts yielding some power yet very little.
Over the course of the last millennium woman’s rights movements have challenge the world, yet still not everybody is listening. In the Middle East, particularly places with heavy Taliban influence, women have little to no rights, and cultures still operate on gender specific jobs. However, Woman such as Mary Wollstonecraft, Susan B. Anthony “got the ball rolling” with equality for woman in the Europe and the United States. Indira Gandhi served as the Prime Minister of India for three terms and conducted foreign policies, nuclear weapon programs and several wars with Pakistan; having the most influence over war as a women during her time. Even Pakistan, under Benazir Bhutto, has warmed up to the idea of female leaders. In fact, Benazir Bhutto is the first female prime minister of Pakistan, where as the United States has yet to have a female president. Woman’s inequalities have been prevalent through out history, and while they have showed major improvements, they’ve yet to complete justification within the last millennium.
The thesis, “Women from 1000 to about the late 1800s must be looked at in terms of elite vs. women in general. Elite women have had access to power during this time, mostly during crisis. Most women, however, have been treated as second class citizens” is true in most areas of the world in that time period. The part of the thesis that states, “most women were treated as second class citizens” is especially true for China and Europe. In China, through Confucianism, people had their own role and had to act accordingly. Through this, women were seen as being lesser than men. By way of the Five Relationships of Confucianism, men are the mentors for the rest of the society. Women practicing Confucianism were to be secondary to their fathers prior to marriage, minor to their husbands following marriage, & secondary to their son after their husband passes away. So through Confucianism, women were lower in status than men. In addition, women were not allowed to occupy many jobs in China. If women were to have a job, it would be in woven textile factories. Even the higher-class women were treated less than a man. A women’s opinion was not well heard of in this time.
In Britain, men over powered women. Women had to obey everything that their husband wanted. Once a woman married, everything she owned went to her husband. Women were not allowed to have a divorce from their husband until 1891. If a woman were to run away from her marriage she would be found and punished. There were different statuses among the women. Lower class women were allowed to work, but they were hard laboring jobs. Upper class women could have had some education, such as reading and writing. The lower class of women however, seemed to have more of a say in their families because most lower class women were working and bringing money into their families. Upper class women’s inheritance went all to their husbands; therefore they rarely had an opinion. As a result, women in the lower class had more of a duty and contribution to their families.
The thesis is true in regards to women in Mongolia. Women in Mongolia were lower than men, but they appreciated it better than other women in Asian countries. They appreciated it better because they were able to tend the herds, become mothers, and in the Middle Ages, become warriors. These warriors served for a Mongolian governmental council called Khuriltai. Also, some women had the opportunity to have prominent roles in military performances. However exciting these privileges to women may seem, most women were still seen as mothers and field hands who were lower than men.
Mary Wollstonecraft was a skilled writer in the 18th century. She was a great supporter of women’s rights. In one of her books she writes that by nature, women are not lower in status than men, but seem to be because of the deficiency of schooling. Her strong ideas about feminism spread. Because of her power to write about what she believed in, this made her powerful because she could make a change with her ideas. The thesis from class D applies to Mary Wollstonecraft as well.
The thesis further extends to a well-known Prime Minister, Indria Gandhi. She was the third Prime Minister of India and was the second female head of government. She is most widely known for being the first female Prime Minister of India. Indria was a high-ranking woman who had access to power, declaring a state of emergency. However, her personal guards were the people that killed her in response to her decree of Operation Blue Star.
Wars have mostly been about men, but women were also a part of the American Revolution. Women had more access to authority because they were aiding men on the battlefield and were assisting them when they were wounded. Women became nurses and were getting familiar with medicine. They were also responsible for cooking and cleaning the clothes of the soldiers. Although these women were working along side or with the men, they were still not considered part of the army or war forces. Even when women were doing so much for the men, men were still thought of as superior to women.
The thesis applies less to women in the 20th century. Women were able to have power in society such as becoming a nurse, president, councilor, head of state, etc. Margaret Sanger was a nurse and a birth control activist and the creator of the birth control campaign. By her coordination, she formed the first birth control clinic. Female doctors ran the clinic; which was located in New York. From the years 1952 to 1959, Margaret Sanger was the President of the International Planed Parenthood Federation. This Federation was to better the sexual health and helping women make the right decisions in preparation for their families. Because of her actions, she helped many unfortunate women with their unexpected pregnancies, and assisted in giving her guidance to women in need. Because of this, the thesis from period D’s class does not apply to the 20th century because women are becoming more involved in higher-powered roles and are being treated more equally with men.
A predominant feature of most civilizations is the social imbalance between men and women. Looking at women’s roles in history, mainly in China and Europe, this trend has been inherent. In China, this was mainly a product of philosophy, as within the patriarchal way of life women mainly existed to serve men, either as slaves, concubines, or prostitutes. As such, there was not much of a difference between elite women and lower-class women. The role of higher-class women was that of servant to their husband, just as other women were also servants to the men in their lives. One of the most famous examples of women’s subservience to men is the role foot binding played for centuries. Unless a woman’s feet were bound, she was considered unsuitable for marriage. Since the eleventh century, women had their feet continuously broken from age three onwards by curving the arch of the foot so steeply that the foot became 3 inches in length. Foot binding continued to be a tradition until the demands by nationalists in the 1920’s for women’s rights. Although the nationalist’s did not survive against the Communist army, Mao believed that by eliminating gender inequality he could make China into a world power. As such, he eliminated many old traditions such as foot binding. Females were encouraged into the work force, after centuries of being second-class citizens. However, the balance between men and women in China is not completely equal, even today. There are about 118 males to 100 females within China, mainly as a product of the one-child policy and resulting sex-specific abortions. Also, prostitution and the practice of mail-order brides are still in effect within China and many of the surrounding countries. As such, although the social imbalance has not been eliminated, it is not as radically present within China as it once was. In Europe, the difference between elite and lower-class women was more strictly felt. Elite women were treated as a possession of their husband, and although they were educated, their education was very basic. They had no political role in society, and were kept to a domestic setting. As for lower-class women, they had more of a role in their household, including child-rearing and domestic chores but still had none of the political power of their husbands. In both China and Europe from the 1000 to 1800, women were second-class citizens, in China more so than Europe. In China, all women were subservient to a certain extent to men, with their existent based off the relationship they had with men. In Europe, women had a certain amount of freedom based on their class, but were still considered second-class citizens and had no political role.
A few civilizations and the people within them were an exception to the norm illustrated above by China and Western Europe. For example, within the Mongol Empire, not only were women allowed to move about more freely, but they also had a considerable influence in politics. Even though it was a patriarchal society, women acted as advisors. Most famously, Genghis Khan relied on his mother for advice when setting up his Empire, and continued to rely on his wives as well. In war, women have had many different roles, either for holding down the home front or fighting themselves. Instead of being obsolete, women have been an integral part of wars. In addition, within Europe, a few women had a considerable voice and/or a position of power. Mary Wollstonecraft, a British writer, was an advocate for women’s rights and insisted that women were not inferior to men as a product of nature, but more as a lack of education as provided by society. She had a big role in politics, just like Indria Gandhi, who was the third Prime Minister of India and the second female head of government in the world. Impressively, she is part of a larger trend that sets the 20th Century apart from world history. During the 20th century, there have been 46 women in major roles in world politics as Prime Ministers of Presidents alone. As such, it is probable that the imbalance is smoothing out, the playing field becoming leveled, although not completely.
Sexism and gender-discrimination is still a huge part of the global culture, domestically, politically, and socially.
The 2001-2002 D period class’s thesis that argues during 1000 to the late 1800s women’s power was based on social ranking is incorrect. During this time period all women were thought to be inferior to men regardless of social class. Even though as cultures varied so did women’s rights, women were always seen as second-class citizens to men within their class. It is true that the higher up in society a women was the more able she was to take part in education and the arts, but this also meant her contribution to the family was less valued and she had to be protected. In contrast, women of lower classes were more highly regarded because they were able to contribute to the welfare of the family by caring for the kids or working in the fields, but they were still always considered inferior to men.
In Europe and China this idea held true. A British writer and philosopher, Mary Wollstonecraft, was advocate of women’s rights who argued that women were not naturally inferior to men but only appeared this way because of a lack of education. Mary’s ideas did not take off until years after her death during the late years of the Victorian Era. During Victorian Era, 1837 to 1901, women lived under appalling conditions where they did not have suffrage rights, the right to sue, or the right to own property. A wife’s role was to love, honor, and obey her husband and nothing more than that. In China, Confucianism governed the relationship of women to their families. In this culture, women were to obey their fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons. Their roles were always of “subservience.”
In other regions of the world women were able to hold more power than those in Europe and China. Women in Mongolia had higher social statues than other Asian, Islamic, and Christian European societies, but were still subordinate to men. Many were herdswomen or mothers, but during wartime they severed as warriors in the army, some even in commanding roles. Originally Islamic women had certain rights and freedom but in time Islam adopted practices that lowered the status of women even further. These included veiling and the separation of women and adult males in wealthier homes.
Into the 20th century, women struggled in the fight for equality, but women’s rights have made huge progress. In the 20th there have been several women heads of state all over the world including Mongolia, China, European nations, India, and countries of Africa and South America. Through the years, women’s political participation has become more apparent as more women are elected to political positions. Indria Gandhi was an Indian politician who served four terms. She was the second female head of government in the world and remains the world’s second longest serving female Prime Minister. She serves a perfect example women’s progress in gaining power. Sadly, she was assassinated by her bodyguards because of their disagreement on one of he policies. Even though women have come a long way, they still are fighting for equality. In some nations such as Saudi Arabia women still cannot vote. Also there is still an income gap between women and men.
Clearly social status has had nothing to do with the value and respect women receive in society. Throughout history women have been considered inferior to men, and this idea is still lingering today.
The thesis that states that from 1000 to about the late 1800s elite women have had access to power during this time, mostly during crisis and most women, however, have been treated as “second class citizens” can be found in accurate because while it does apply to some points in history this thesis does not suffice the majority of civilizations at the time period as a whole. In addition, as times change and women obtain more rights, this thesis can clearly not be correct to times of the 20th century. In Europe and China from 1000 to about the late 1800s, women’s rights were not based on social ranking, but rather all women in general had very litter power. Though in some cases social ranking did matter, over all women we always considered of lower class.
In imperial China, they followed Confucius principles. Confucius societies were patriarchal thus the women always had little power, regardless of their social rank. “Women and men have an almost ‘servant and master’ type of relationship. Most women are keepers of the household.” The women never had power weather it was during a time of crisis or not and weather they were elite or not. In addition, Hinduism, which was a dominant religion in India was a patriarchal religion in which no women had any public authority and were expected to tend to their husbands at all time, no matter what their class. Women were always seen as lower than men and their social ranking did not matter in that sense.
Though in England, women were seen as lower than men, laws began to pass that increased their rights. In Victorian England, etiquette and manners were very important in being women. It was expected of them to fit the perfect qualities of manners and etiquette. This was expected of all women, no matter what class, though education was offered but mainly for women of a higher class only. Thus, almost more was expected of the higher class women causing more pressure and them to be even less powerful. Mary Wollstonecraft, an 18th century British writer and advocate of women’s right strived to change the future of women. She wrote a book called “A vindication of the Rights of Women” which states that women are not naturally inferior to men but it just appears that way due to their lack of education and women and men should be treated equally. In the late 1800’s, laws were passed about women’s rights in England. In 1857, a law was instated that women were able to divorce their husbands if they were cruel and in 1870, women were allowed to keep all money that they had earned.
Though women’s rights were overall subordinate to men’s, in Mongolia women actually obtained some rights. They were allowed to go to war with their husbands and could even obtain political positions. They could also own property and could divorce their husbands, privileges that most other women of their time did not have. Even though they did have more rights than the other women at the time, they were still found to be inferior to men.
The thesis though, does apply to Prime Minister, Indria Gandhi. She was the third Prime Minister of India and was the second female head of government. She is most known for being the first female Prime Minister of India. Indria was a high-ranked woman who obtained power and she is also was the second longest serving female prime minister to this day.
As for 20th century women, this thesis does not apply as women have grown to have almost equal right to men no matter what their social ranking. Women can hold all types of roles from political to in the household. Though it is not completely equal between women and men, the rights clearly advanced throughout the 20th century. The Women’s suffrage movement is just one example of the gain in power of women. Women of all classes stood up to get the voting privileges passed for women. Though there is still a slight discrimination towards women, though in recent and past times the majority does not matter the social ranking of the women. Hopefully, as times advance we will work towards a 100% completely equal society all over the world.
The role of the women was mainly incorrect based on D periods opinion of “Women from 1000 to about the late 1800s must be looked at in terms of elite vs. women in general. Elite women have had access to power during this time, mostly during crisis. Most women, however, have been treated as “second class citizens.” Throughout the past century from 1000 to the early 1900’s, women have been treated as having a disadvantage. They have been represented as non-important people. Although the world has changed a lot in the past millennium, many nations still do not give women an equal amount of respect when compared to men. Many cultures in Asia and the Middle East view women as people who are below humans. An example is the Taliban who have no respect for any woman. Even in cultures that are well organized, women are still below men in the social class rankings. The income gap between men and women still exists in many nations.
The role that a woman has in a community is based on the wealth that she has and the family power. However, all of them were still dominated by the men in the families. Women in poor families had to take care of the home and the children, and they had to work on the fields. The poor women had to do a lot more work than the rich women. The rich women did not have to do a lot of work, but they were still viewed as a lower class when being compared to males. All women were limited in the opportunities that were presented towards them. All women did not have the right to vote and they did not have any right to any property. This made them rely on their husbands or male relatives in their family. Many rules including Confucianism’s “5 relationships” established the relationship between the men and women. These rules also clearly stated that men have more rights and more freedom than women in their respected societies. Some women even had to have an isolated room and were in chambers during the day and the night. The only people that women could talk to were their family, the guards in the palace, and their husbands. As many people my not understand clearly, it was a very tough job to maintain the house because some houses may have had 12 to 15 children. The women were under pressure because they were already treated below men, and if they did not do their job, they would be in trouble and even beaten. It was like a small village inside the house so the women were allowed to practice their social skills. The majority of women did not have any contact with education, and they had no political power.
In Mongolia, women were able to enjoy a higher social class than many women in other Asian nations. Many women were herdswomen and some even served as a military troop. The main shock was that only men were noticed in being in warfare, but this time the women had become warriors as well, so it closed the gap between the social classes between the women and men. Still, the men were a lot more respected than the women at that time. In Mongolia, the women were also able to have positions on the political world. Mongolia had a woman that represented a role model for every other woman in Mongolia. Her name was Toregene Khatun. When her husband did not do his job at the throne of the empire correctly, Toregene took over in his place and fired all of her husband’s workers. She replaced them with her own because her husband died a few years earlier. Many other empires or nations had former female rulers. Sorhoktani also had a big political part in the nation. Only women that were wealthy and were of noble birth could rule and play a significant part in Mongolia.
Unlike the Mongols, the Ottoman Empire was disregarding the rights to the women. A major influence on the women legacy was Mary Wollstonecraft. She was an author that adapted into many different genres. With the rise of the movement to give a woman a political voice, Mary Wollstonecraft was very upset. After a devastating effect of Godwin’s Memoirs, her reputation was broken for a century. She is best known for her book, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, because she argues that women are just as good as the men. The only reason that they are not viewed to be as important as men is because they lack the education that they deserve. She was a big confidence booster to women because she gave them something that they did not have the courage to do before, stand up for themselves.
Another positive influence on the women was Indira Gandhi. No, she was not related to the famous Gandhi, but she was very important to all the women who were being treated unfairly in the world. She was an Indian politician for three consecutive terms. Gandhi was only the second female in the world and she remains as the world’s second longest serving Prime Minister. She was the first woman to become prime minister in India. She was very influential to all women in the world because she gave them confidence that they could be just as important in the society than the men. They should not be treated unfairly and they should be educated just like the men. This shows that it only matters a little bit if a woman has the education, but they can succeed without being in the top social classes of their culture. In conclusion, thesis from D period’s class on the role of women is incorrect based upon the 20th century.
From 1000 to the suffrage movements of the late 1800s, women have generally been treated as “second-class citizens” in Europe and China. Depending on their societal status, this role may differ but only slightly. Relative to their status and future rights, women have been treated inferior to men during this time period in this region.
First, there were gender issues present in Europe in every societal class with women inferior to men. Mary Wollstonecraft, an 18th century British writer, philosopher, and advocate of women’s rights, described women’s inferiority to men as not a natural phenomenon but a result of lack of education. She further argued “both men and women should be treated as rational beings and [believed in] a social order founded on reason.” The general role of women in Europe at this time was a motherly role of caring for the house and the family. It did not matter which class, all women somehow took on this role. The poorer women worked at home all day as their husbands tried to support the family looking for jobs. The housewives of the middle-class, which developed in this time period, did not suffer as much as the poorer women, but their roles were still basically the same. For example, during the Victorian Age, women had a servant or two to do the housework while the husbands went to work in the city. These women had a more relaxing role, but they lost societal freedom. They were only expected to be polite and proper, and they had to fit this position to earn respect. Education was open to them, but this was one of the best opportunities offered to them. Other than education, women were highly limited, and so, they depended on their husbands and male family members. Societal freedom decreased even further with the elite class of women. These upper-class women had more wealth and more servants to do the work but lost influence and power outside the home. Husbands used their wives for a family with children, but other than that, women could not contribute much to the society. Because elite women’s personal decisions could potentially influence politics, they were closely protected and restricted more than lower-class women. With each class in Europe, men restricted women from societal freedom in a range of ways.
In China, “a woman’s role was always one of subservience,” like in Europe, but for different reasons (Peterson 257). Confucianism and Buddhism were the main factors of this obligatory role. According to the principles of Confucianism, women were to obey their fathers, brothers, and husbands, constantly being put inferior to men. Buddhism reinforced this principle. Under this obedience, women were very restricted. They had to rely on men constantly for food, housing, and other life necessities. This obedience also put restrictions on women through protection. Like in Europe, the more elite the women meant more restriction by protection. Elite women in China during this time period were required to be secluded into small quarters of their homes. Poorer women lacked this intense protection but were disregarded outside their home, so they too were secluded inside. Again, women suffered from their restricted roles in some way no matter their social class.
For the rest of the world during this time period, women’s roles varied depending on their culture. Japan, for example, was similar to Europe and China in that women “were to obey their fathers…husbands…[and] sons” (Peterson 257). Confucianism along with Buddhism designated this role to women. On the other hand, women of Mongolia had a much more free social role. They continued to be subordinate to men with their jobs as mothers and herdswomen but frequently took on other jobs too. Mongolian women could be warriors or part of the Mongolian government council. These positions were generally granted to men, so this position is highly significant to the social freedom of Mongolian women. With these high-ranked positions, women were replacing men, and in this case, were being put superior or equal to men. Another example of this type of position is serving in commanding roles. This was not as common as a female warrior or governor, but it still was possible. Although Mongolian women relatively had more social freedom than other women of this time period, as Buddhism grew in Mongolia, women’s rights decreased. Islamic women experienced a similar decline in their social freedom. Their religion and culture originally allowed them more rights, but as Islam grew and adopted practices, women’s rights and freedom decreased. Evidently, there is a wide global range of women’s roles, but similarities can be found among cultures. The 2001-2002 thesis does not accurately describe the global scale of women’s roles nor does it describe the European and Chinese women’s roles.
The 2001-2002 thesis again cannot be used to describe the role of women even in the 20th century. It is true that women’s freedom has increased and developed in the last few centuries, but there are still gender issues today. To look at the improvement of female rights, it is necessary to notice the female social leaders of the 20th century. First, there were several female activists, such as Mary Wollstonecraft, who was previously mentioned, who expressed their opinions and began political movements. These women show how women’s rights have improved as they could finally express their opinions and have a listening audience. Secondly, women began to participate in wars. Earlier, this was generally a men’s job, but now, it is open to women. Thirdly, women filled country leadership positions; there were several Prime Ministers in the 20th century, such as Margaret Thatcher of Britain and Indira Gandhi of India. Before the 20th century, only men held these positions; Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka was the first female Prime Minister, obtaining the position in 1960. Lastly, women had the possibility of becoming heads of state and presidents, for example, Isabel Peron of Argentina. Although women have been “opened up” to new positions in the last century, gender issues do still exist. Some of these issues evolve from ancient cultures or personal beliefs. Gender equality will continue to be a battle, but globally, women have gained strength in this battle.
As with most theses, there are two sides to the argument in the 2001-2002 D Period class’s thesis. They state that women in world history, specifically during the time from 1000 to the late 1800s, received certain amounts of power due to their social ranking. Though some examples do prove this to be correct, it is mainly inaccurate. Though, the idea of elite women vs. women in general should also be taken into consideration. The power of women ranged from culture to culture, but no matter what class they were in, women were always regarded as second-class citizens to men. Even so, women of a higher class may have had more benefits such as education and participation in arts and culture, though because they had more culture freedom, their contribution to the family and home was not valued as much as the lower class women. Women found in the lower classes did not have the benefit to religion or the arts, forcing them to stay at home, allowing them to be valued more because of their contribution to the family and home as a whole. Their caring for the children as well as working in the fields allowed them to be highly regarded, though they were never regarded as superior to men—always proving inferior.
This idea is predominant in both China and Europe. In imperial China, an empire based mainly on the beliefs of Confucius, women of any class were inferior to men. They acted as servants in many different ways (including acting as slaves as well as prostitutes). No matter their class ranking, women were always found as servants to men. Also, imperial China under Confucianism was considered a patriarchal society, following the lead of men. Even through the Five Relationships of Confucianism, it is obvious that men are the leaders of the society. No matter her standing in the society, women were always secondary to men—secondary to their fathers before marriage, standing as minors to their husbands after marriage, and secondary to their sons after the death of their husbands. It is clear that women did not have much power in imperial China due to the Confucianist values. Even in occupation, women were clearly secondary to men despite their social ranking. If they were to have a job, it would most likely be in a factory specializing in the woven textile industry. Women, despite their class ranking, were always treated as minors to men in the patriarchal society of imperial China.
As well as in China, women were always secondary to men in European societies, mainly British. In British society, women were clearly inferior to men, especially once they married. Once married, everything the women owned was considered her husband’s. Divorce was prohibited up until 1891, and if a woman were to run from marriage, she would be found and punished accordingly. Among the women, there were different statuses between the lower class women and the higher class women. The higher class women had more benefits to receive education and participation in the arts, though their inheritances were given directly to the husband, holding a very low regard to their contribution to their families. Lower class women, though, held grueling jobs in the society and provided for her family. Because of their hard work and providing for the family, the women of the lower class seemed to be able to voice their opinions more, though the women of the higher class barely had opinions because of their inheritance being directly relayed to the husband. Women of the lower class had more duty to their family, though despite what class they were identified to be in, women were still inferior to men.
Although some examples prove the thesis wrong, there are some examples that coincide with the truth in the thesis, for example Mongolian societies. Though they were below men in some aspects, they appreciate their standing. They not only appreciated it more than other Asian societies, but they were also allowed to hold different positions that most women of the time could not—they could be mothers, tenders to the herds, and even warriors come the Middle Ages. Women also were able to have prominent roles in militaristic opportunities. Though they did have exciting opportunities, more than women in other societies, they were still viewed as secondary minors to men.
The 18th Century housed a skilled writer by the name of Mary Wollstonecraft, author of the famed Frankenstein. She wrote that by nature, it is clear that women are not inferior to men, though they still are seen as inferior. She uses the lack of education as her core argument. Her ability to make a change with her own ideas, full of feminist values, can be applied to D Period’s thesis. Comparing to this example is the third prime minister of India, Indria Gandhi. Standing as the third prime minister of India, she was also the second female head of the government. She had access to power and once declared a state of emergency, though her own guards, in their response to Operation Blue Star, killed her.
Although men are seen as the main component to war, women had a lot of authority on the battlefield, especially in the American Revolution. Women acted as nurses on the battlefield, assisting men when they were wounded. They also had the responsibility of cooking and cleaning for the soldiers. Though they were acting alongside the men in the war, they were not considered a part of the armed forces, still conveying the idea of women being inferior to men.
Though the fight for women’s rights is still ongoing, women’s rights improved drastically into the 20th century. Continuing even today, more and more women have had the opportunity to hold political power in many nations including Mongolia, India, Pakistan, European nations, as well as some African countries and South American countries. For example, as mentioned above, Indria Gandhi acted as the longest serving prime minister of India, ultimately being assassinated by her own guards. Though many women have fought for rights and achieved progress in the movement, some women are still oppressed by men. In Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries, women cannot vote. There is a major income gap between men and women. Social status has no effect on the value of women in society, and the idea of their inferiority to men is still present today, though not as strong as it was back between 1000 and the late 1800s.
Women in history have always played an interesting and controversial role. Students in the class of 2001 to 2002 said that, “women from 1000 to about the late 1800s must be looked at in term of elite vs. woman in general. Elite women have had access to power during this time, mostly during crisis. Most women, however, have been treated as “second class citizens.” This thesis only applies to a number of regions in the world. For example, it fits well in the Chinese and European views of that time. However, when looking at, for example, the Mongolian culture, women may not have been leaders of clans or empires, but they had a power of the men. They were not powerless (most of the time) like the students’ thesis suggests.
The role of women in Europe between 1000 and late 1800s was to be a second-class citizen no matter what status or money a woman had. They had no right to vote and were control by the men they married. During the Victorian Age, women were supposed to be very proper with fine etiquette and to not question men. However, voting rights and political equality for woman started to turn around in 1865. In that time, John Stuart Mill was elected to Parliament and strongly advocated the women’s right to vote. Around that time, prostitution began to come across as a “bad thing.” People were concerned about the integrity and worth of a woman. This gave women more power because they were viewed as “fallen women” and victims. Women who did not “fall” where viewed with higher respect.
In China, women had no rights. They were there to serve their men only. Men dominated politics, culture, and economics. Women were to be a thing of possession. Some served as slaves or prostitutes and had absolutely no rights until the early 1900s. Men arranged marriages and women were handpicked to serve a man. Women would not be educated like men were, for they had to purpose but to serve the man. Foot binding became a popular practice. This painful procedure was viewed as a way to look better for the man. At five or six years old, a girl would have her feet binded so that they would only be about three inches. This was viewed as an elite practice and customary.
However, in other parts of the world, social roles were different. For instance, in the Mongolian empire, women had important social positions where they were viewed as the wise ones. It was custom to think that is a woman was older than her husband that the man had to listen to the woman’s advice. It was seen as unmanly if this custom was broken. Also, women played an important role in the Mongol’s economy. They had to take care of animals and food while men were away at war. Women could own their own property and they could even divorce if they wanted to. However, toward the end of the Mongol Empire, women started to take on the Chinese ideas and custom. The Mongol Empire was eventually strongly influenced by China.
In the late 1700s a British writer, philosopher, and advocate of women’s rights came into the political and cultural picture of the time. Mary Wollstonecraft wrote a book A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. The book suggests that women are not weaker or inferior to men, they just lack education. Interestingly enough, her daughter crafted the novel, Frankenstein, which became a classic horror story that dealt with issues unimaginable by the society of the time.
Another example of women gaining power, and going against the given thesis, is Indria Gandhi. This woman served as India’s third Prime Minister for four terms. She was the first Prime Minister in India and was only the second woman to serve in head of government. This happened a bit after the time period given, however it is clear that the precursors to her election came well before the voting. Men started to think of women as equal with just as much power of mind.
The role of women in world history during the 11th-19th centuries is more dependent on the region and time period in question than the wealth or status of the individual (elite versus women in general). While there were certainly advantages to being a member of the elite class in many societies, the role of women varied far more from society to society and from time period to time period. For example, women in the Mongol empire were given many more rights than women in Confucian China. In addition, the rights of women have increased drastically as centuries have passed. Women had significantly more influence in the 20th century than in earlier centuries. On a smaller scale, the role of women in the Mongol empire was more appreciated in the 13th century than in the 14th. For these reasons, time period and region have more effect on the role of women than does status.
For the most part, women in the 13th- century Mongol empire had a lot of influence and power in relativity to in other historical regions. For example, Mongol women had many rights not seen in other parts of East Asia such as the right to own land and the right to divorce their husbands. In addition, because of the importance of military strength in the creation of the Mongol empire, women were given a sort of military education. Their involvement in battles and warfare gave Mongol women a power not seen in other regions. Mongol, Chinese, and European chronicles in the 13th century talked extensively about the strength of women. For instance, Kublai Kahn’s niece, Khutulun, was a strong and aggressive presence militarily, and many stories tell of her defeating men in wrestling matches and displaying other signs of strength. While there is probably some exaggeration in these stories, their emphasis is on the power of women. Of course, it is still true that women were seen as inferior to men – Mongol women often had to tend to cattle and accomplish other “womanly” tasks – but in comparison, Mongol women were significant in society. In addition, while the role of less elite women than those such as Khutulun is less certain beyond the fact that women were not seen as so inferior, this difference still seems insignificant when compared with the difference between say Mongol women and those in Confucian China.
Women in Confucian China were definitely seen as inferior. For one thing, Confucius put women at the bottom end of the patriarchal social structure, setting the stage for many discriminatory actions. Further displaying this sexist mindset is the interpretation of the yin and yang symbol. In the yin and yang, the yin represents the darkness within each individual that is balanced by the light of the yang. In other words, the yin must subside to the yang. Women in China became analogous to the yin, being forced to subside to the wishes of men. In Confucian China, the role of a woman was seen as calling for obedience – to one’s father, to one’s husband, and to one’s adult sons when her husband died. In addition, the ancient tradition of foot-binding, the painful custom of breaking a girl’s feet and binding them tightly to make the feet smaller, is an example of women subsiding to men’s standards and becoming crippled (literally and figuratively) in the process. The female suicide rate was also high, as this was seen as an idealistic response to female disobedience. In these ways, Chinese women were certainly worse off then Mongol women.
European women also had very limited roles in society in earlier years. In 16th-century Europe, women were seen as housekeepers. They cooked and they cleaned, but they were not eligible for important or high-paying jobs. They were often used as factory workers during the Industrial Revolution, under poor conditions and very low salaries. They were not entitled to do “men’s work”.
Another factor that must be taken into account when reflecting on the role of women in society is time period. Obviously the role of women is much different today than in the past. The 20th century proved pivotal for many feminist movements. Influential writers such as Mary Wollstonecraft, a late-18th century radical originally from London whose works urged for further women’s rights, were finally gratified. This newfound feminine power can be seen in the many female prime ministers all over the world who rose to power during the 20th century. Among these influential women were Golda Meir, the prime minister of Israel from 1969-74, Margaret Thatcher, the prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1979-1990, and Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the prime minister of Sri Lanka who served three terms between 1960 and 2000, and the first female prime minister. Whether it was through the symbolic nicknaming of Meir as the “Iron Lady” of Israel or the declaring of Sri Lanka as a republic by Bandaranaike, these women all had significant impact on their spheres of influence.
Another highly influential woman in world history was Indira Gandhi, the prime minister of India from 1966-1977 and then again from 1980-1984. Gandhi successfully brought India into the nuclear and space ages and headed India to the defeat of Pakistan, leading to the creation of Bangladesh from East Pakistan. Gandhi was also previously a part of India’s independence movement. All of these women prove the vast differences between women’s power in the past and the present, from housekeepers to political leaders.
In addition, many nations such as China saw their first feminist movements in the 20th century.
The role of women could also change within a region even from century to century. For example, as explained above, 13th-century Mongol women had much significance in relativity to other regions. However, there is some evidence that this role became much smaller in the 14th century. Fewer women were seen as major figures. In this way, the Mongol empire was perhaps influenced by China.
In conclusion, the time period and the region are factors much more important to the study of women in history than the status of these women. While there were undoubtedly subtle differences in the roles of the elite versus the roles of standard women in certain societies, the general significance of women in any certain society was the same; either they had rights or they didn’t. It is more relevant to look at different regions and time periods.
The thesis determined by the D period class of 2001-2002 that “Women from 1000 to about the late 1800s must be looked at in terms of elite vs. women in general” is fairly accurate for the time constraint provided. Although, throughout this time period, instances occur where it appears that women of higher rank were of contrasting characteristics with general women, overall women must be looked at all women together. In reality though, majority of women were treated and positioned as lower-rated people or second-class citizens. The higher up in social class a woman was and the higher cosmopolitan society she lived in, the more freedom she had for education and the arts. The lower down in a social hierarchy, the more time she had to work for feeding her family, and agricultural duties. On the contrary, women in higher society had less valued contributions, whereas women in a lower class were more highly regarded within their class because of their direct contributions. For example, poor women in industrial societies shifted from working in the fields to working in sweatshops, while they had no time for domestic work. Upper-class women had more wealth, but less influence and less power outside the home. As seen throughout regions of the world, women were placed in a state of inferiority to men.
In China, they instilled set principles of Confucianism, as it became the leading and most popular way of life of the time in China. Confucianism followed the concept of the Five Relationships that are to be followed every day in life: ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, older brother to younger brother, and friend to friend. All these relationships were to be followed by all people. Women’s rights were rigidly defined by the rules of Confucianism’s Five Relationships, because “they were to obey their fathers and brothers and then their husbands” (Peterson’s). Similarly, Buddhism was of “influence for Japanese attitudes toward women” (Peterson’s). In Japan, women were to obey their fathers, then their husbands, and if widowed their sons. Both these belief systems advocated a common concept in which women idealized as a lower ranking then men in all aspects of society.
On the other hand, in England common convention of women were not influenced from that of religion, rather it was a principle. As a new group of middle-class housewives were developing, they were living in new large homes with servants. Similar to upper-class women, they were isolated from the world around them. All these occurrences were apart of the Victorian Age, which involved women’s idealization, manners incorporation, and females should witness nothing repugnant. The ambiguity between the different instances that were appropriate between upper class women and lower class women moved many people to alteration. Similar to Japan and China, women were still viewed as social second-rate citizens in the world. Even though, Victorian England, Confucius China, and Buddhist Japan viewed women severely, the Mongols allowed women many rights.
Contrary to most places in the world, Mongolia permitted many different opportunities for women during the course of their lifetime. Even though they were not as strict as other places around the world, the Mongols still maintained a common perspective of inferiority for women. For example, during the Middle Ages women battled as warriors and others possessed high military positions and role during battles. Also, women could even earn positions in important culture councils in Mongol society. Even though women were splurged with such luxuries, they were still responsible for physical labor such as herding and milking sheep. Also, they still had to take care of the household, so in essence women remained a lower rank than men, regardless of their countless rights and benefits. Regardless of rank or amount of subsidies, women were still regarded as “lower citizens” around the world. Many defining women had their mark on history, such as Mary Wollstonecraft.
Mary Wollstonecraft was a female British writer of the 18th century that was a decisive advocate for women’s rights at the time. She came from a relatively unstable financial background, as a result of her father’s improvident habits with money. Regardless of these obstacles inhibiting her journey to her goal, she was capable of spreading her message without the handicap of her social status. She argued that women were not inferior to men, but at the current times it appeared so because they were not educated. She lived also in a society in which, women were out casted as inferiors of the social norm, but Wollstonecraft defined the roles of women for years to come. Eventually sometime in the 20th century women started earning roles and occupations as high public officials, and power in society was spread to women.
Sirmavo Bandaranike, a female Sri Lankan politician, was the world’s first female leader of government. She served three times as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. She succeeded her husband who was the former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka before he was assassinated, so Sirmavo decided to take upon her husband’s legacy. She improved many aspects of Sri Lanka by continuing policies her husband started, such as nationalizing areas of the economy, such as banking and insurance. She even committed “civil disobedience” by declaring a state of emergency (which was never called before). Overall, as a result of Sirmavo’s office time, foreign relations, economy, and education were significantly improved in Sri Lanka. Also, her lasting legacy on the rest of the world will never be forgotten because of its lasting impact.
Indira Gandhi, a female Indian politician, served as the third Prime Minister of India. She ended up serving three consecutive terms for India, and she hold the second longest serving female Prime Minister. Following the footsteps of her grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, and Sirmavo Bandaranaike’s lasting impact of rule, she was capable of improving foreign relations and facilitating industrial development in India. Though, because of massive conflicts that arose as a result of her taking office, Sikh bodyguards later assassinated her over a dispute of her new policies. She forever shifted the perspective of women leaders in India because it can be seen today in the many new women Indian politicians.
Similarly, Benazhir Bhutto was assassinated in a bombing recently before a scheduled election in which she was projected to win by a landslide.
Benazhir Bhutto was a Pakistani democratic who served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan for two terms. Bhutto is commemorated today for her notable advancements in the fields of industrial development and growth and her social capitalist policies. As in common for all three of these leaders, they all contained a connection in their families for power in Politics. For
Benazhir, her father, Ali Bhutto, was a previous Prime Minister of Pakistan. Overall, these women were able to forever define the role of women in politics, which opens up many opportunities for women to take responsibility for powerful jobs for years to come, regardless of their social status. Overall, the thesis of the D period class of the 2000-2001 was partially correct in both instances because women had to face adversity even though it usually did not discriminate between the social standing of the woman.
In terms of studying European and Chinese history from 1000 to the late 1800s, the thesis that a women’s role can be categorized by her social class is incorrect. Throughout these nation’s histories, women have been continuously deemed as the lesser citizen. Although, elite women were generally treated with more respect and received access to higher education and the arts, they were as dependent on men as those with less social standing. The elite did not have access to power in times of crisis, either. Regardless of class, women were under male authority until successful women’s right’s movements liberated them in the early-mid 1900s. The stance that the elite versus women in general is not an accurate depiction of history falters slightly when broadening the scope to include other nations. However, the concept that gender inequality has favored the male sex in most societies over the past millennium is accurate.
In Europe and China, class determined a woman’s privileges, albeit limited, but did not affect her position of inferiority to men. In England, during the Victorian Age, upper class women were idealized. They were expected to always appear demure and well mannered, and to only explore feminine pursuits in music, appropriate literature, sewing, etc. The image of elite women mirroring perfection promoted ignorance of the world around them, diminishing influence outside of their homes. Lower class women did not have the luxury of this lifestyle, for leisurely time was spent working for lower wages than men in addition to their domestic duties. Although upper class women were kept sheltered from political or economic matters and lower class women appear more independent, both classes were reliant on male relations. Neither division of women had much in terms of legal rights. They could not own property, vote, and to divorce a husband was risking ostracism. Radical women, such as Mary Wollstonecraft, publically apposed these social conventions. Her main point of discussion was that women and men were born equals, but women only appeared inferior because they did not receive the same educations as men. Wollstonecraft’s ideas were beyond her time; her publication of Vindication of the Rights of Women in 1792 served as a main doctrine in women’s rights movements, a century later. Although women like Wollstonecraft existed who challenged male superiority, men retained the commanding force over all classes of women in England. In China, Confucian ideals forced women to obey the will of their male relative. Even Buddhism promoted male authority. Chinese women followed orders from their fathers and brothers until marriage, at which time they followed orders from their husbands. If their husbands died, it was expected that the widow would not remarry remain a part of her in-laws family. She would continue to be bound to her husband, even in death, and obey the will of her son. The same laws and principles of a Confucian society applied to higher-class women, women of the courts. It was their duty to obey their fathers, husbands, and sons. The concept of subservience among women strongly promotes a gender-biased society. However, both England and China lacked a class bias. Elite women had access to abundant luxuries, but their role is history is the same as women in general: secondary in importance, power, and influence to men.
Contrary to women in England and China, Mongolian women held positions of influence in their society and had legal rights. But of course, their positions were not public. Women were the brains behind male leaders. A woman’s opinion was greatly respected and sought after. Men often valued the opinions of their wives, it was a polygamous culture, opting to consult with them before important decisions. For example, Genghis Khan took advice from his mother in developing his empire and advice from his wives on choosing his successor. In the Mongolian society, women were not sheltered from politics or business. In fact, Mongolian women were trained as warriors, could own land, and divorce their husbands. Over time, the increased adoption of Confucian and Buddhist practices decreased the importance of female insight and their freedom. Whether one is studying the era of women’s freedom in Mongolia or their decent into oppression, women never attained authority over men and class did not deter the husband’s want for guidance.
The role of women in the Middle East is complex; there are cases where women have gained leadership positions but in most nations they still do not retain importance in society. Indira Ghnadi and Benazir Bhutto are two examples that contradict the assumption that the elite versus women in general organization in false. Indira Ghandi served as India’s third prime minister from 1966-1977 and was elected again in 1980. Ghandi was the daughter of Jawahajarlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India. Obviously, she grew up in a life full of privileges and had direct access to the political world of India. She was elected to office during political turmoil when Congress was split in two factions, the socialists led by Gandhi, and the conservatives led by Moraji Destai. She was assassinated in 1984 by two of her bodyguards as a response to Operation Blue Star. A political parallel to Indira Ghnadi is the story of Benazir Bhutto. Bhutto was the eleventh prime minister of Pakistan, the first and only female prime minister to take office. She was the daughter of a former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Her time in office occurred during a crucial point in the Cold War when communism seemed a very realistic threat. She was also assassinated in 2007. Both these women came from prominent, well-educated families, being well educated themselves. They were elected during times of trouble in their nations. Also, these elections happened in relatively modern times. In history, women in Arab nations have been considered the lesser citizen, and like Chinese women, were servants for their husbands. However, the Middle East showed potential for women to acquire power during times of crisis and further study may prove this to be true further back in history.
Gender inequality has been present in every society. In most cases, women are inferior. In Europe and China, women were not able to break through their constraints under men without persistent force in the 1900s. Women in other regions of the world were generally under male authority, but there are cases in which women became powerful leaders. These women were part of the elite class and ruled during times of conflict. The roles of women are continuously evolving as women continue to gain authority, respect, and positions as world leaders. The thesis from D period 2001-2002 in false when applied to Europe and China but, if altered slightly, can be applied for other nations of the world.
The first half of the thesis, that women must be looked at in terms of wealth and social standing when evaluating their roles in history, is true. However, while the statement that only elite women have access to power is in most—but not all—cases true, it is more a matter of inherent social qualities one cannot pin solely to the role of women. It is also true that women gain more opportunities during crises. Women’s roles in China and England are similar in that, generally, religion played a role in restricting women’s opportunities. Mongol women, by contrast, had far more rights than women in Western Europe or China mostly due to their nomadic lifestyle. Women in what is defined as the “Islamic world” are by the Western definition very restricted. As for the twentieth century, women’s rights have advanced greatly but it is still necessary to consider if a woman is elite or not because the extra burdens of poverty often fall on women. Overall, the thesis—a generalization at best—is correct.
In general, the opportunities available to women are and were as follows: higher class women have less responsibilities but lesser freedom whereas women of the lower social classes have more responsibilities but have greater freedom because their contributions are often necessary and appreciated. These roles are especially true of the changes brought by the Industrial Revolution. Women of higher classes had servants whom they supervised but were usually unable to leave the house and interact in business due to social norms. Also, the “freedom” afforded to women of the lower classes usually consisted of working in husbands’ or fathers’ businesses or working in sweatshops or at other work in the putting-out system: these women had these opportunities only because they removed some of the male burden. Without money, moreover, these women were also deprived of educational advancement. Another important factor to consider in the lives of women is that society is less likely to intervene in a family of wealth. As is evident throughout history, leaders of all movements, whether of women’s rights or independence, are usually of the upper, wealthier classes. For example, Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín, considered key leaders in Latin American independence movements, were both creoles. Likewise, it was mostly rich, educated women that propelled women’s rights by hosting gatherings of philosophes—because they had the money—in the Western European Renaissance. Thus while it is true that the role of women was dictated by class, class has throughout history dictated mans’ ability in all endeavors.
As a whole, the roles of women in both China—and therefore Japan—and Europe were limited mostly due to religion, as well as social norms and class. Confucianism, which came to China in force in the Qin and Han dynasties, was based upon establishing harmony within the family, which was thought to then make a peaceful society. The Five Relationships, one of which is the relationship between a woman and her husband, dictated family life. This relationship, one of male authoritarianism and female subjugation, was also transferred to Japan. Likewise, the teachings of Buddhism—which state that women have more obstacles than men in attaining the ultimate spiritual state—placed women as spiritually inferior to men in both China and Japan. Likewise in Western Europe, most women’s lives were dictated by monotheistic religion and deeply hierarchical societies. Women in Christian kingdoms were inferior to men by the very fabric of their religion, for it was Eve that persuaded Adam to eat the apple. Initially women were allowed to hold leadership roles in the Roman Catholic Church but were soon restricted to becoming nuns and the like in convents and abbasses. Still, women in these roles did not have to bear children and almost always acquired an education. During the Victorian Era women’s roles became increasingly restricted. Upper and middleclass women were expected to have perfect etiquette and were not to interact in business or anything so distasteful, but lower-class women were too poor to bother with such standards and thus the thesis also applies here. Moreover, in both China and Europe, women had more equality among the peasantry, when both male and female roles were shaped by the same grueling poverty and therefore: thesis is certainly applicable in not just Europe but China as well. Of course, there are exceptions to these general, restricted trends. Empress dowager CiXi of the Manchu Qing dynasty, for example, was famous for the Self-Strengthening Movement under her rule. In Europe in the Early Middle Ages, middleclass women were expected to aid their husbands in business, and roles as “alewives” were especially common. By the High and Late Middle Ages women such as Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) gained fame. Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) was a British writer, philosopher, and advocator of women’s rights who proposed that education was the key to enabling women.
By contrast, the roles of women in Mongol society—which dominated China in the Yuan dynasty—were much greater and in the Western mindset freer. Mongol women, like most women in nomadic societies, had more freedom and usually more respect than in a centralized, patriarchal society. Women often took care of animals and temporarily replaced men’s jobs during conquests because the Mongols mobilized all men for war. Therefore in Mongol society it is true women have more freedom in times of crisis. Mongol women had the right to own property and to the divorce. It is not uncommon in Mongol, Chinese, and European accounts to read that women were involved on the battlefield. Trained for warfare, women such as Khutulan—famous for her unsurpassable strength and love of warfare—partook in campaigns alongside men. Some of these rights were transferred with the Mongols to Yuan China, changing the traditional role of Chinese women. Usually, however, these Mongol women were of the upper classes and it is unknown if these opportunities were afforded to the lower classes or not, and by such the thesis fits Mongol society even if women played greater roles than in Western Europe or China.
As for other parts of the world, women in what is collectively known as the “Islamic world” have, in the often one-sided Western worldview, fewer rights than most other women. Although often scrutinized, women’s rights in Islam as a religion are surely not what they have been made to be in extremist “Islamic” societies and especially in the media. Further, the Qur’an has many interpretations and what in the Western view is thought to be dictated by Islam is often in actuality determined by regional customs. Unlike Christianity, the Qur’an states that Iblis (Satan), not Eve, swayed both Adam and Eve together. It states that women are free to work and are not obliged to share any of the profits they make with their husbands. Having multiple wives is only permitted if all of the wives are “provided for equally” and therefore the majority of Muslims regard this practice as not only religiously incorrect in that it is impossible but also morally abhorrent. Yet the further restrictions placed on women in “Islamic” societies, such as living in harems, wearing the full abaya and covering the face—the Qur’an stipulates covering only the hair, arms down to the wrist, and skirt/pant to just above the knee—, and, more recently, not being able to drive, all of which are purely cultural, are certainly restricting in comparison to Western culture. Despite the fact that women such as Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007) have been prime ministers, party leaders, finance ministers and more in Islamic countries and that more women than men attend universities in Iran, Muslim women are still required to cover to a certain extent—although by all means not all of them do—, women do not inherit as much as men, and, in practice, women are in some places not allowed to work, their testimony’s hold no weight, and are restricted to the home. Thus in practice women of what is considered the “Islamic world” have fewer rights than most other women and given the nature of the restriction class makes little difference.
It is also true of the 1900s that women must be looked at in terms of elite or not elite when evaluating their roles. As time has progressed women have acquired more rights in different places at different times. Gaining suffrage is a good example of this. In the United States women were allowed to vote in the 1920 elections following the Twentieth Amendment but women in France were not allowed to vote until 1944. The World Wars and following independence movements were likely the greatest cause for increased rights for women in the 20th century. World War I and World War II—and crises in general—offered newly vacant business and factor roles for women. In the United States’ homefront, women worked in factory jobs to replace the men who had been drafted and were also heavily involved in trading jobs. Women, however, were usually under trade unions such as the British quasi-trade union “Dilution,” however, agreed that they would give up their jobs after the end of the War. Also, they were thought to have been paid at the most two thirds what men would normally be paid for the same job. Women also served on the battlefront as nurses or in their own corps of the army or navy, but of course these jobs and the respect that went with them was lost following the war. Also following World War I and World War II was the creation of many new, independent nations that, as they evolved in government, granted women’s rights. Indria Gandhi, for example, was the third prime minister of India, a nation that was previously under British rule. Other women, such as Margaret Thatcher and Madeline Albright—who in fact was born in a nation that gained independence following World War I—have become highly influential and publically respected figures: Madeline Albright was voted by the U.S. Congress as Secretary of State unanimously. Yet while there is no doubt that in general women have gained more equality throughout the 1900s, poverty still restricts women because quite often women must not only perform domestic tasks but make money to support their families as well. As previously mentioned, it is also true that wealthier classes have less interference from society and more freedom. Being “elite,” therefore, will always affect the status of women no matter when or where one looks. Crises, definitely, increases women’s rights at least temporarily, and, in general, women continue to gain rights as time progresses.
Throughout the history of many places the social imbalance of women and men has been an issue. In China and Europe from 1000 to the late 1800s, women were treated more like second-class citizens no matter what their social status was. Women were dominated by men, and treated more like possessions rather than people. During the Victorian age in England women were expected to remain composed polite and obedient at all times. They had few responsibilities. They did not have to clean the house because they usually had servants for that. They stayed far from the work world and during the day were to make afternoon social calls and drink tea. All that counted with them was that their manners were good. The middle class women in the Victorian age in England were treated this way as well, however, the poorer families had the women working. Similarly, in China, the elite women, ones in the imperial court, were restricted from working as well. However, China and Europe were divergent in the way of how to treat elite women because in China women were separated from everyone. They often lived in limited accessible chambers, which only allowed for the women to see family and attendants. Many of the common women were treated very differently from elite women. The lower class women had to take care of the house because they could not afford servants. Correspondingly to the elite women, the lower class women did not have many social rights.
Although the social imbalance seemed very strict in China there were some places, such as the Mongolian Empire, that allowed the women more freedom than women in areas of Persia and other areas of China Although many of the political figures in Mongol history were male, women could serve as warriors and sometimes could hold positions in the political government. A woman by the name of Toregen Khatun, also known as the Great Khatun, was appointed to administer the country after the death of her husband, Ogedei Khan, until the election. Many places would not let this happen, but rather just elect a new male ruler right away, but the fact that the Mongols did not do that shows how women their had more rights and freedom. They had many beliefs on a woman’s place in Mongolia. It was believed that if a man’s wife was older than him that she could be wiser and was able to guide him in matters. It was unmanly and a sign of immaturity if he did not listen. The women of the Mongolian Empire also had more rights in the marriage. Women were allowed to divorce their husbands. Also, not only were they were allowed to inherit property after their husband had died, but they also became the head of the family and could remarry if they wanted. Another difference was if the male committed crimes, such as adultery, they had the same punishment as the women, which was made a law by Chingis Khan. Chingis Khan made the law so that not only women could be punished or executed.
Many women are the reason the social imbalance between men and women have changed over the years. Mary Wollstonecraft, who was an eighteenth century writer from Britain, was one of these women. She was a strong feminist that advocated women’s rights. She is best known for her book A Vindication of the Rights of Women. In the book she argued that women are not naturally inferior to men and it only seems like that because the lack of education women get. She believed that men and women should be treated the same way. Although at the time her beliefs and books were not paid much attention to and were looked down on, in time people began to respect her views and agree. Indria Gandhi was prime minister four times in India. She was the first woman to become prime minister in India. When she gained this power the congress split. She led one of the sides while Morarji Desai led the other. However, not everyone was happy that a woman had this political power. Rammanohar Lohia, an Indian freedom fighter, called her “gungi gudiya,” which means, “dumb doll.” She ended up being assassinated in 1984 by her bodyguards because of an operation she set out to do called operation Blue Star. She was and remains the world’s second longest woman serving prime minister. Benazir Bhutto, another more recent female prime minister was also assassinated two weeks before election where she was a leading candidate. She was the eleventh prime minister of Pakistan and the founder of the Pakistan People’s party. She was Pakistans first and so far only female prime minister. She served two terms as prime minister.
In the 20th Century the gap between men and women has dramatically shrank. Numerous amounts of women have now held political positions. Many women have held Head of State. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia was Africa’s first elect woman head of State and is currently the President of Liberia. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Leymah Gbowee and Tawakel Karman for their non-violent struggle to protect women and allow it so women have the rights in helping with peace-building work. Elisabeth Domitien, from Central African Republic was Premier Minister and Head of state, and Lidia Gueiler Tejada, from Bolivia and was president as well as Head of State, are two other women that were held the position of Head of States. These are just a few of many women that have held positions in political councils.
Therefore I believe the thesis that “Women from 1000 to about the late 1800s must be looked at in terms of elite vs. women in general. Elite women have had access to power during this time, mostly during crisis. However, the part that states that most women have been treated as ‘second class citizens’” is not completely true. To me it seemed as though it did not really matter what class the woman was in, elite or common. Women seemed to be for the most part be dominated by men, however, in places such as the Mongolian Empire it seemed as if women had almost the same amount of rights at times no matter what class. The thesis would not work in the 20th Century because women, both elite and common, have the same amount of rights.
The students in the D period class (2001-2002) who came up with the thesis that women from 1000 to about the late 1800s must be looked at in terms of elite vs. women in general because elite women have had access to power during this time, mostly during crisis, while most women have been treated as “second class citizens” are not entirely correct. This statement holds true when examining the roles of women in ancient China and Rome, but it falls short in describing the Mongol empire or such 18th century writers as Mary Wollstonecraft. In addition, this thesis does not offer truth as to the roles of women in the 20th century. Women must be looked at in terms of the nation they inhabit versus their social status.
Women in the Mongol empire were treated with respect regardless if they were elite. Although women such as Sorghaghtani Beki had access to power because they were elites, the Mongol women in general were not treated as “second class citizens.” Women were valued for their wisdom, and it was expected that a man would marry an older woman for that reason. In actuality, it was unmanly for a man not to listen to the advice of his wife. All women had the right to divorce and own land. Mongol women, unlike those of China or Rome, were not controlled by men.
In the mid to late 18th century a British woman by the name of Mary Wollstonecraft gained influence despite her social status. At the age of 19 Mary left her family and tried to earn her own livelihood. She started anew. In 1788 she began to regularly provide articles for the Analytical Review. She gained the power of influence over others through writing despite an elite title. With works such as her Vindication on the rights of women, which became the main doctrine for later women’s movements, she fought preconceived notions of the roles of women in society.
Ancient Rome and China, however, do conform with the class of 2001-2002’s thesis. In Rome, women were not citizens, had no rights, and could not hold office, so they were treated as “second class citizens.” It was not until the Romen Empire that women could own land, run businesses, or have paying jobs. Elite women gained power mostly by being able to manipulate their husbands who were in government. Similarly, Chinese women were seen as burdens to men. Both Confucianism and the yin and yang supported the segregation of men and women in everyday life and that women should tend to the wishes of closely related men, fathers, brothers, husbands, and even sons. Even elite women in china were treated poorly.
In the 20th century women gained more power and rights, and social class began playing a lesser role. In the 1960s Sri Lanka elected the first ever female prime minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, whose daughter, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge, became the first woman president of that nation. At the same time, Indria Gandhi became the first woman prime minister of India and served for four terms. Social class played little role in these elections. Each of these women was democratically elected over their elite male rivals. The 20th century turned a new page in the roles of women in nations.
Women also played increasingly important roles in wars. In both World Wars women were trusted to work in munitions factories and in the production of planes, ships, and vehicles to be used on the front line. They also lead recycling and rationing on the home front. Thousands worked as nurses on the front lines in WWII in both the pacific and in Europe. In fact, German women shot down allied warplanes, and 800,000 russian women serves in units in warzones. Thousands of American women were also sent to the pacific and to Europe as armed units. In the 20th cenury women began to gain equality with men across the globe.
The class of 2001-2002’s thesis that women from 1000 to about the late 1800s must be looked at in terms of elite vs. women in general because elite women have had access to power during this time, mostly during crisis, while most women have been treated as “second class citizens” is only true in certain nations. Even before the 20th century women began gaining power without the help of social classes. Therefore, Women must be looked at in terms of the nation they inhabit versus their social status.
Peter Dykeman-Bermingham
The Role of Women from 1000-1800 CE
Throughout history there have been scattered stories of women achieving greatness, for example Joan of Arc or Cleopatra, but for the most part, women are remember as less important than the men of their time. This is the root of the popular play on words “his-story”. The D period class of 2001-2002 argued that between 1000 and roughly 1800 CE woman were granted more power if they belonged to a higher social status. This is false. Women living during that time period were rather limited on power and in most regions of the world women of ever social class were treated the same. In China and other Asian cultures, religion was used to hold woman back; in England social norms and expectations were the limiting factor.
Believers of Buddhism and Confucianism primarily populated China between the years of 1000-1800. Buddhism is a patriarchal egalitarian religion, and Confucianism taught meritocracy. Confucianism encouraged a constantly changing social hierarchy whereas Buddhism deterred social hierarchy altogether, but either way no one was guaranteed status. Lacking status made it difficult to give special privileges to certain women. Also both belief systems promoted a relationship between men and woman where the woman would serve the man. Buddhism and Confucianism were prominent influences in China and Japan culture and permeated into surrounding cultures as well. With the spread of the belief system, also spread these reasons for oppressing women.
The European version of female oppression actually contradicts D period’s thesis. Lower class women were actually held more power and were more important in their families than upper-class women. In Europe it was fashionable for a woman to be ignorant to the hardships of work. They were seen as delicate. If a family could afford it, the women of the household would be educated in music and literature but then would not be allowed to use their knowledge. Lower class women could not afford an education, but they were allowed to work difficult jobs to help support their families. Neither situation can be seen as equal to that of a man. Women in England were lacking many rights, such as the right to divorce a husband or own property.
As with every rule, there are exceptions to where woman had power. In wartime, women inherited many other the typical male roles, such as breadwinner and head of the household in the absence of their husbands in war. Also, In Mongolia, women were allowed jobs as warriors, and political councils. They could fight beside there husbands and could advise Genghis Khan himself; they enjoyed more freedom then most woman of the time, but they were still second to men. Again, there is an exception, Toregene Khatun, a woman born a noble, was named the ruler of The Mongolian Empire from 1241-1246 to replace her dead husband, only to be replaced in turn by her eldest son Guyuk Khan.
Woman’s suffrages movements around the globe started to change that sent the world into a new era. Revolutionists like Mary Wollstonecraft voiced their views and passions to the people to provoke a change. Living in the mid to late 18th century, Mary Wollstonecraft suggested that women are not created inferior to men. She also provided the world with another revolutionary gift, her daughter and one of the most famous female writers of her time, Mary Shelley. Though Mary Shelley wrote outside of the time period between 1000-1800, her story Frankenstein tackled issues such as nature vs. Nurture and empathized a character that was ostracized because of the way he was born (created), similar to the discrimination of women. In the late 19th century and into the 20th century, things started to change for women. New ideas were arising about equality. Karl Marx wrote, “Differences of age and sex have no longer any distinctive social validity. All are instruments of labor.”(Sheen). New Zealand was the first nation to grant every adult woman the right to vote in 1893. Other country’s were hot on there heals as well. In the India independence movement led by Mohandas Gandhi, he preached that everyone was equal, and by that he also included woman. Today women hold power all over the world: Chandrika Kumaratunga was elected president of Sri Lanka in 1994 and served till 2005, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was the president of the Philippines until 2 years ago after serving 9 years, Soon Ching-Ling was the Honorary President of the People’s Republic of China for a total of 12 days as well as holding many other high positions in the communist party, Hillary Clinton was appointed the Secretary of State for the Obama Presidency in the United states. Germany, Haiti, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Mongolia, Isreal, Gabon, and Malawi all had women serve as president or acting president in the last Century.
The world is changing today and a woman of high class will almost always hold more power than a woman of a lower class, but during the time period of 1000-1800, most societies regarded woman as having the same power under a man regardless of class. The exception of course is the Mongolian Empire, but the most of Europe and Buddhist/Confucian cultures are the rule. Sorry Dr. Murnanes 2001-2002 D period class, but your thesis is not backed by the facts.
Works Cited
Fulton J. Sheen, . “Communism & Woman.” Catholic University of America. National
Broadcasting Company, 1947. Web. 23 Apr 2012.
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The role of women in world history is one of the most controversial topics that can be discussed. The status of women has changed greatly along the course of history and varies, depending on the civilization. While D periods statement, “women from 1000 to about the late 1800s must be looked at in term of elite vs. woman in general. Elite women have had access to power during this time, mostly during crisis. Most women, however, have been treated as “second class citizens.”, can be used to summarize the status of women in certain societies, it does not explain the status of women as whole from 1000-1800. For example, the role of women in much of Europe and the Chinese empire can be explained by this thesis, however in groups such as the Mongols women had somewhat equal rights. Unlike the explanation given by the 2001-2002 D period class, women were not completely helpless. Sadly however, women in the world today are still oppressed, in many countries they do not get the respect and rights they deserve. Countries such as Afghanistan, and Iraq where there is a high Muslim population are some of the largest oppressors.
In the Mongol empire, women were treated with respect. This respect came regardless of class, although some were respected more because of their elite status. Men would often look towards women for wisdom and guidance, and it was not uncommon for men to marry older women for this reason. In fact men who did not respect women were frowned upon. Unlike in Europe and China, women in the Mongol empire could on land and hold positions of power. Women in the Mongol empire, unlike most in this time period, were independent.
In Europe around 1000-1800 women were treated poorly regardless of social and economic standing. There are exceptions, however rare, to this standard. One of these exceptions was a British writer, Mary Wollstonecraft. At the age of 19, Wollstonecraft began to earn her living. Around 1788 she began a job for the Analytical Review. Over time, she gained influence over her higher ups through her articles. These articles played a key role in the women’s rights’ movements later on.
China and for the most part Europe, despite a few exceptions as motioned above, unfortunately fall into the 2001-2002 D period class’ assessment of women in 1000-1800. Women in Europe, regardless of social class, were treated as “second-class citizens. They were expected to conform and comply with all demands, and above all, obey men. In fact, if widowed, a women was expected to obey her son’s orders and if she had no son, her fathers. Women had little to no independence. They could not own land, vote, or hold positions of power. Women were like property; they were treated as though they were owned. Women in china had to go through the same ordeal, if not worse. In china during this time period, it was believed that Women were actually a hindrance to men. Much of the Chinese culture reflected this. The Chinese concept of yin and yang, as well as Confucianism supported the oppression of women. Like in Europe they were expected to comply with any man’s command, and they were treated this way no matter what social and economic class they were from.
At the turn of the twentieth century, women’s rights were on the rise. Women could now vote, due to the women’s suffrage movement, and hold public office. At this time, these changes began to happen all over the world. In India, the first female prime minister was elected, Indria Gandhi. She was reelected, and served four terms. The importance of social class was weakening. It played less and less of a role in what women, and people in general, could and could not do. Anyone could run for office, not just the elite. These are the first signs of equal rights that appeared worldwide.
As world war one and two came about, men from all over the world fought for their homelands. While this helped shield the their nations from the threat of enemy invasion, it weakened the country from within. The men that had once worked factories, and built buildings, the people supporting the economy, were gone. This greatly weakened countries from within. During this time, women began to fill the tasks that men once had. They began to work in factories and manufacturing plants to pick up where the men had left off. This was a major step towards independence for women. It showed that women could support themselves, and did not have to rely on men to survive. They built military vehicles to send to the front lines of the war as well. Aside from working at home, many chose to actually enlist and go to war. These women became army nurses that tended to the sick and wounded men coming from battle. Many women even took place in battle themselves. These were major steps towards equality among men and women in the 20th century.
The class of 2001-2002’s thesis is correct on many accounts, however it lacks a complete explanation of the standing of women in years 1000-1800. Even in the beginning, women were treated fairly in some cultures, and by 1800. Women began the race towards equal rights across the globe. This thesis becomes completely absurd. By this time the idea equal rights has spread throughout the world.