Student Question
What are two traditional roles of women in Indigenous America, Europe, Africa, or China, and how would they translate to modern society?
Quick answer:
Traditionally, women's roles in Europe and China involved domestic duties, such as homemaking and child-rearing. In Europe, women were often excluded from economic and educational opportunities, with marriage being a primary path to security. Similarly, in China, women were expected to be passive and supportive, often subjected to practices like foot binding. In modern society, women have broader opportunities, although many continue to handle traditional roles like childcare, while also gaining rights and participating in public life.
The assignment to provide two examples of traditional roles women played in Indigenous America, Europe, Africa, or China and compare those with examples in modern society is an interesting one. To complete the assignment, it might be a good idea to look at the traditional role women performed historically in some of these regions. For instance, throughout Europe during the 19th century, the status of citizenship generally was for men only and women were excluded.
Traditionally, women's roles revolved around the home. They were homemakers who took care of the tasks such as preparing food, producing and/or mending clothes and nurturing children. In agrarian societies, they were often required to contribute in other ways, such as milking cows or helping bring in the harvest. Outside the home, women were generally excluded from means of economic advancement, not offered educational or economic options and often barred from owning property. In fact,...
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woman often found that their only path to economic security was through marriage.
In China, women were also viewed as more suitable to positions in the home. According to the Asia Society,
Women were yin, men were yang. Yin was soft, yielding, receptive, passive, reflective, and tranquil, whereas yang was hard, active, assertive, and dominating . . . In yin yang theory the two forces complement each other but not in strictly equal ways. The natural relationship between yin and yang is the reason that men lead and women follow.
Ebrey points to the practices of foot binding and widow chastity in China under the Sung Dynasty, as women were expected to serve their parents-in-law, rear children and simultaneously accept the role that concubines played in their husbands’ lives.
To complete the assignment, it would be worth comparing and contrasting the vastly broader opportunities open to women in modern times, although the bulk of traditionally "women's roles" (such as rearing children) often still is done by women.
Nevertheless, in 19th century and early 20th century Europe, as the fervor of revolutionary movements and then WWI swept across the European continent, women participated in ways that led to changes in their traditional roles. Women also began to agitate for greater rights, including the right to vote.
According to the Pew Research Center, except for six European countries, Europe granted women voting rights beginning in 1893 and through 1960 and 80% of African countries included in the research granted women voting rights from 1950 to 1975, as decolonization proceeded.
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