Early Civilization Women's Rights

Though patriarchy was nothing new in the ancient world, how did the evolution of the three major western religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) and the political disintegration of the Roman world by the early medieval period impact women? What effects did this have on attitudes toward women and their role in the church/faith? How did the expansion of customary laws (primarily Germanic and Islamic) reinforced by religious codification versus objective laws (Roman) alter the rights or value of women? How might this have been reflected in family life? On the other hand, what avenues for intellectual life and control over their person did some women have in the various cultures? How was this affected by religion? Do you think women’s roles in those same faiths and associated family life have changed in the modern world? Why or why not?

The fall of Rome’s power and rise of monotheistic religion was one of the greatest developments for women. In government-focused societies, they didn’t experience the same freedom that religion offers to most women. Religions such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam gave women the chance to be spiritually equal to their male counterparts, “it accorded women and slaves equal spiritual standing with free men” (Frankforter and Spellman 193). Though most of the sacred texts instructed women to obey (submit) their husbands, they promoted equality and the idea that everyone deserves the same respect and consideration because they are made in the image of their Gods.

However, as we know, people distort the words and concepts in these sacred texts. In theory, women were given certain respect and value. However, in practice they were often harshly treated for things such as adultery (whereas it was hardly as scandalous as a guy doing it), lack of reproduction, disrespect and other things of the sort. In fact, the fall of Rome is largely placed on women’s shoulders for their failure to produce sons and therefore rights were revoked (Darty). The church was rather judgmental of any wrong doings committed by females and they were often sent to convents to serve God.

Like most of the monotheistic religions that sprang up in this time, Islam’s promoted equality, “Islamic faith at its inception was persuasive as socially tolerant, self-confident, compact, and triumphant—sense of creating a social utopia and personal relationship with creator” (Darty “Rise of Islam”). However, the Germanic tribes further complicated the rights of women by adding their own thoughts and beliefs on the role of women, of which were less than empowering. This can be seen in the family life because women were still fully expected to be subservient to their husbands; men were very much the head of the household. They held only as much freedom as their husbands technically allowed them too, society made sure that woman remained reliant on men.

In many cultures that were highly military centered, women were afforded many opportunities to interact in society, engage in intellectual debates and add to society. One of the most influential women of that time was A’isha, Muhammad’s favorite and most beloved wife. She was feisty and strong willed. Like few other women before her, A’isha “amassed wealth, dispensed influence, and intervened in struggles that broke out for control of the Islamic community” (The West 209).

Today, in the US, women experience a whole new freedom within religion and external from religion. No longer are women simply “subservient” to men. We, they, experience a freedom that has never been seen before. They are independent, self-sufficient and no longer require a man to survive- something that has evolved though time as society has migrated from a hunter-gather/agricultural setting and as a result have changed the family gender roles, in some cases reversing them or rebelling against the idea of family period. However, women in Islamic societies still face immense oppression and sex discrimination. Women’s rights have hardly evolved or grown since the religion’s implementation. They are held to high expectations and can be put to death if their husbands or families have felt she is dishonoring them (Honor killings). Nothing is done without a man and a women’s success is determined by her marital status and ability to bare children.