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Roles Of Women

Question: Between the 13th and 16th centuries, what were the views held by men on the economic and social roles of women? What kinds of additional documents would help you understand the roles women played?

Throughout history women were mostly frowned upon as well as in the 13th and 16th centuries. Men were the supreme gender in countries such as China and India, women were seen to bear children and do household chores while in other parts of the world such as Cambodia women would work at the market place, while supporting their husbands. However, the majority of men viewed women economically as worthless, and socially to only bear children, nothing more. Fortunately, later on in history women started rebelling and fighting for their rights. This gave them equality to men, making the world more balanced in gender, socially and economically.
The bases of women's roles began long ago when men took over the hunting and women took over gathering. The same rules applied to the world during this time period. Women in many countries were looked down upon and the man in the family had control. Women's only purpose was to love and support her husband as stated in Document 1. Document 1, a passage from "The Good Wife" which was a manual on how wives and women should behave. This book written in 1411 stated, "And therefore, fair sister, beseech you that you keep yourself in the love and good favor of your husband, you be unto him gentle, and amiable, and debonair." This shows that women's one purpose in society was to respect and help her husband. The husband wanted to gain more control over women. Women were especially supposed to respect their religious rules. In document 4 Ibn Battuta states, "As for their women, they have no modesty in the presence of men and do not veil themselves in spite of their assiduity in prayer, If anybody wished to marry one of them he may do so, but they do not travel with the husband...the association of women with men is...