2. How were women treated in Classical China?
Chinese women were treated like slaves and did not have the rights or privileges that men had. Women in Chinese society occupied a low and degraded status. The parents of those being married arranged the marriages in Classical China. The outcome of arranged marriages left women with virtually no voice in the society. Women weren’t allowed to have any ambitions as it was deemed unacceptable. It was believed that women did not need to know how to read and write since their main …show more content…
What was the role of men?
Men were superior to women therefore they were the leaders of their families. They ran government and were honoured for their wisdom and strength. Men were farmers, merchants and their role was to take care of and protect the weak. If a wife did not have a son many Chinese men would remarry. Men went to school and were educated. The boys were the families’ heirs and were far more highly regarded than girls.
Society recognised people who produced things. Men could be Gong, Nong, Shang and Shi. Men who were Shi worked as aristocrats, philosophers and government administrators. They could also be Nong, which were farmers and were considered important because they grew the food that fed the nation. Men could also be Gong, which were artists and craftsmen and were also valued because they produced goods that were essential to society. And finally, men could also be Shang, which were merchants. Merchants were placed that the lowest recognised level because they did not produce anything but rather profited from others’