Rome and China Blog post

Over the years, there’s been a constant struggle for equality between the male and female in regards to the role that they play in the society that we live in. However the male counterpart is known to have dominated most of the past, especially during the early civilizations. This phenomenon is described as Patriarchy, which according to the dictionary is a social system in which: males hold primary power; males predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property; and, in the domain of the family, fathers or father-figures hold authority over women and children.

In China, women were to be respected according to traditional Confucian values. Women lived in the shadow of men. However, the man was considered weak if he did not control his woman with all respect due. He was not allowed to beat his woman, and she maintained power within the household. At the time of manhood, the eldest son also gained power of his mother. Women in classical China aimed to have married sons as they gained power over their daughter-in-law. 

In India, women were also considered subordinate according to classical Indian writing. Women were also portrayed as devoted to their husbands. Women were to only concern themselves with family matters. In Rome, the law gave most authority to males. As with China, the eldest male ruled the household. These males rarely abused their power. In fact, they often placed women in charge of many household affairs. At middle age, women had a lot of influence. They could help arrange marriages or manage finances. Although illegal, many found ways to let women inherit property.

In our modern time feminism refers to a series of campaign for change on sensitive issues which may include reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, women's suffrage, sexual harassment, and sexual violence etc. According to Livy, the women of Rome in the early first century displayed actions similar to modern day feminist actions when they rallied against the Oppian law which states that “no woman might own more than half an ounce of gold nor wear multicolored dress nor ride a carriage in the city or a town within a mile of it, unless there was a religious festival”. It was a law that degraded role of women in the society, placing them completely under the control of men. However, just like feminist groups present in the world today, their unity and perseverance made the tribune to repeal the law.

During the classical era civilizations, Patriarchal values were absolute as it affects all aspect of a culture from religion to, politics, and education etc.  Women were minorities at that time and had no power to rival the laws. However, According to Ban Zhao, first century Chinese women valued humility, respect and obedience.  A Chinese woman in that era had to be humble and respectful to her husband; she has to do this in honor of her clan and ancestors. Chinese women from that era also valued obedience and I believe that they accepted it because it was likely that they too would one day become Parents-in-laws.

If I was a woman living in the classical era, I would have preferred living in the Chinese civilization simply because women were allowed education. To conclude, I do believe tackling such questions in this manner is a valid approach to historical inquiry because it shows us how “a change” in a civilization can influence the way we live our lives today. For instance should we still have Patriarchal values today, I believe divorce rates won’t be as high as it is now. However I still believe in equality regardless of race and gender.