History of Women

Teacher: Luciana Viter

Ancient World

Neolithic female figure Ancient greek female figure

The figure of Mother Goddess was important

Diet of prehistoric human beings: mostly plant foods and meat only ocasionally. Thus, woman the

gatherer may have been more important than man the hunter on providing food.

Mother Goddess, sometimes referred to as Mother Earth or

Mother Nature,represented

motherhood, fertility, creation.

Durga (India)Durga's feminine power contained the combined

energies of all the gods

YemanjaIn Yoruba mithology , the mother of all saintsDanu, the mother of Irish gods

Isis nursing Horus (Egypt)

Juno (Greece (as Hera) and Rome)goddess of marriage and

queen of the gods

And later, Mary (Virgin Mary)Mother of Jesus for Catholic Christians

In these contexts, priestesses often enjoyed rights and liberties denied to most women, as their own property

and income, freedom of movement and prestige.

Vestal priestesses (Rome)

And there were also some powerful queens

But patriarchal communities and values prevailed

Patriarchy

A social system in which the male is the primary authority figure to social organization. Fathers hold authority over women and children. Many patriarchal societies are also patrilineal, meaning that property and title are inherited by the male lineage.

PATER – FATHER

Myths and Archetypes

The relationship between women and men in the

West is rooted in the Genesis story of Adam and Eve.

The story of Eve has provided men with the reason why they should restrain and restrict the social, sexual,

religious, political, and economic freedom of women. It has also given the justification to hold women

responsible for all the misfortunes suffered by mankind.

Other mythical women’s representations

Pandora, the first woman created by the gods, according to the greeks, opened a box releasing all the evils of humanity.  She opened it out of simple curiosity.

Magic and Witchcraft

Women were traditionally the guardians of folk medicine. It was considered white magic. Fear of women’s power of doing black magic originated the myth of witches.

Although accusations of witchcraft seem to have

been most commonly made against older women who

lived on the margins of society, women who were

too powerful could become targets as well. Joan of Arc

is one famous example.

Marriage

For a long time, marriage was the

most important item to define the place

of a woman in society.

Women’s Suffrage

Only on 20th Century, Women had finally won

the right to vote.

Some women in History who changed the world

Marie Curie, a pioneer researcher on radioactivity, was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the only woman to win in two fields, and the only person to win in  multiple sciences. She was also the first female professor at Sorbonne.

Some women in History who changed the world

Rosa Parks , the “first lady of civil rights”, refused to obey bus driver order that she give up her seat in the colored section to a white passenger, after the white section was filled.

Some women in History who changed the world

Mother Teresa devoted her life to the service of the poor and dispossessed. She became a global icon for selfless service to others. She was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1979.

Some women in History who changed the world

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani school pupil and education activist who wrote  detailing her life under Taliban rule and her views on promoting education for girls. On 2012, Yousafzai was shot in the head and neck while returning home on a school bus.

Women are still oppressed todayHonour-Killings

Women are still oppressed todayForced marriages

Women are still oppressed todayRapes

Women are still oppressed todayClothing Requirements

Women are still oppressed todayRestricted access to education

Women are still oppressed todayFemale Infanticide

Women are still oppressed todayDeprivation of Freedom and Citizenship

Inequalities