Ancient Women Roles

The roles of women in ancient times The role that women play in today’s society has changed dramatically since the ancient times. Or have they changed dramatically over time? The role that women play on society in ancient times all depended on what culture they were living in, the region in which they lived, as well as their culture’s religion. Even till present day, women in some cultures play a big role or a role so small that you can’t even call it a role in society. Not all women in modern times and in ancient times are/were as lucky as women in modern day America. Women had the potential to make society more prosperous by fulfilling many roles in ancient society. In America when women were finally given the opportunity they made our country
Women were given and treated as equals in ancient India. Women could even become prophets and students among the Brahmans (Priests). During the Vedic period the wives of men were in charge of household chores, and were the leaders over servants and siblings that were not wedded. Women also participated in many public gatherings. They were also allowed to have an education unlike many other cultures. Men were to respect their wives as if it was their mother. A wife was supposed to be a friend of her husband, not a slave to please him only when he wants. Women could become queens and rule the country, only if her husband died and her son was to young to rule. When ancient India entered into the Gupta period they lost a lot of respect and dignity. Men began to discriminate women, and the women lost all freedoms. For example, they were not allowed to go anywhere unless their husbands authorized them. Women were later thought only as a sexual temptation and if men think of them as a way to obtain happiness the end is not good. “The world is greatly troubled by women. They (viz. men) forsooth say, “These are the vessels (of happiness).” But this leads them to pain, to delusion, to death, to hell, to birth as hell-beings or brute beasts, the fool never knows the law (3)” (Milestone Documents, “Jain Sutras”). So at first women could obtain political power, they participated in the countries
Men were the leader and the head of the house. Women were in charge of the household duties, observing slave labor, and bearing children. A woman could be referred to as her maiden name or her husband’s name. Only women that are a part of the upper caste could partake in learning literature and philosophy. With women spending most of their time at the house especially women who are lower in the social structure really had no part to play in the political aspect of society. Regarding economics and the law women had to nominate a male family member to represent