Gender+and+empire

**Gender and Empire from 1450-1750**

 * Overall**
 * Still, most places were patriarchal societies where women were viewed as inferior to men
 * Marriage was more about $$$ than love (It Europe is becoming more about love than money, but still an "economic agreement")
 * Upper class women had more power/opportunities (education, science, business, literature) while their servants worked
 * Working class women tended to spend more time with the family and/or working (usually on the farm) to help feed the family
 * Women who lived in cities tended to have more freedom
 * Ways that Women exercised control**
 * "The man is the head....but the woman is the neck!!!" - My Big Fat Greek Wedding
 * Advising their husbands and sons
 * Raising/educating the children
 * Helping run the business
 * Running the household and finances associated with it
 * Europe**
 * They started to slowly see the unfair treatment of women
 * China**
 * Sex roles are defined by the teachings of Confucius. (Women must obey their fathers, brothers, husbands)
 * Japan picks up on this, too
 * Arab/Islamic World**
 * In the early days of Islam there was more equality, but culture changes and led to subservience
 * Harems, Veiling (from Persian influence,) Seclusion of women
 * Certain parts of the home just for the women, young children and the servants
 * Certain parts of the home just for the women, young children and the servants