Gender and Family Roles Change over Time

GENDER AND FAMILY ROLES CHANGE OVER TIME

By: William Rush Folger

China

Classical China Similar to other agricultural civilizations

in their emphasis on unity and a powerful man in the household

Women were subordinate to men throughout the classical period

Gender roles changed during the Tang Song Era

Tang Song Era and Mongols

The status of women improved in China during the Tang dynasty and early Song dynasty.

Confucianism was widely used after its introduction in the later Song dynasty which stressed a hierarchy with a dominant male in family life.

The status of women declined as Confucianism gained popularity.

The practice of binding women’s feet which encouraged staying at home to work was introduced during this era.

The status of women in Chinese society improved under the influence of the Mongols.

Foot Binding

China in the 20th Century Mao Zedong made great efforts at the liberation of

Chinese women. Mao gave women rights including Legal equality Freedom in marriage selection Opportunities of education and work outside the

home This led to the support of the communist party by

many women in China.

India

Classical India Classical India featured a strict society through

the caste system as men and women were forced to marry in the same caste.

Family life was very rigid with male dominance as it evolved through the Vedic and Epic Ages.

Women played a lesser role with the increased usefulness of technology in agriculture.

Children were expected to work as families formed economic units.

Indian society featured more strong willed women than China in this era.

Children were expected to work

Post Classical-Present India

Arranged marriages were widely used based on economic links.

Many practices remained the same limiting women’s rights.

Women eventually gained rights including suffrage and restrictions on marriage and family have largely been eliminated in present day India.

Middle East

Middle East Women in the Middle East played a larger

roles than those in India and China before and after the introduction of Islam.

Women played a critical role in the economy throughout the pre-Islam era.

Upon the introduction of Islam, gender and family roles changed.

Middle East Teachings of Muhammad established

males and females as equals in Allah’s eyes.

Islam advanced the placement of women in society although certain jobs were reserved for men

Men were still allowed 4 wives versus one husband to women

Abbasid to present The status of women declined during the

Abbasid Empire Men began to have harems and the use

of veils were required for women Poor women worked in the economy but

wives of nobles remained at home The subordination of women to fathers

and husbands remained prevalent throughout the many generations that followed

EuropeEurope

Classical Europe The Greek and Roman Empires had

similar gender and family roles Society stressed a tight family structure

where the father had great authority Women worked in the economy and had

considerable influence in the upper classes especially in Rome

The treatment of women was not as bad as that of China

Post Classical-Present Europe

Women were equal to men in Christianity Women held more political positions in the

Byzantine Empire compared Western Europe This treatment continued until the renaissance There became a greater emphasis on nuclear

family which included taking more effort in a relationship with the children and marrying at a later age

Family life became a value which continued to present day

Women gained SUFFRAGE after World War 1 in many European countries

Africa

Africa Prior to European colonization, Africa

featured an agricultural civilization much like that of China or the Middle East at the time

Males were superior in society and polygamy was common in many tribes

The status of women increased with the spread of Islam

Africa After European and Muslim Colonization

Women were carried in the Saharan slave trade to the Middle East for reasons which included concubines and harems

The Atlantic Slave trade skewed the population as they wanted mostly working males

Women participated in struggles for independence in many new African states

The respect women gained through their political voice in independence led to their eventual gain of rights which included suffrage

The Americas

The Americas Before Europeans

Women in the Aztec Empire had a variety of different roles including

Peasants worked in the fields and household

Nobles often had multiple wives but peasants would only have one

Women owned property in Aztec society although they were inferior in politics and social life

Women worked many hours grinding maize due to lack of technology

The Americas After European Arrival

Poor women were involved in the economy while the rich remained confined to the home

Men held more power in the home and in politics which continued until the late 19th century

Women began to demand more rights as opportunities in work and education began to be offered to them

CIERTO OR FALSO

Cierto Or Falso The status of women declined during the

Song Dynasty in China.

Cierto

Cierto or Falso The status of women mostly increased

with the spread of Islam.

Cierto

Cierto or Falso Throughout the dark ages, women were

treated better in western Europe compared to that of Eastern Europe(Byzantine Empire).

Falso

Cierto or Falso The term used to family life after the

renaissance in Europe is “nuclear family”

Cierto

Cierto or Falso Women are equal to men in Allah’s eyes.

Cierto

Cierto or Falso Mao Zedong was against the

advancement of women’s rights in China.

Falso

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