Compare and Contrast the Classical Worlds of the Mediterranean and China in Terms of Gender Relations
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The Mediterranean and China were both patriarchal civilizations where the men held the most power and women acted as their inferiors. In both places, the father or husband was the head of the family. In the Mediterranean however, women accomplished many economic goals, while women in China had almost no importance outside the household.
In the Mediterranean, women were active in business and controlled a small portion of urban property unlike women in China. Women in the Mediterranean were also vital in economics; however in China they were inferior in most parts of society. Women in China had no power and were to do as the head of the house said, whereas some upper class women had great influence and power within their house in the Mediterranean.
In both the Mediterranean and China women were inferior to men. The father or husband was the head of the household and made all important decisions. Also, if there were issues with population, female infants were killed because of womens low status and worth. Despite their irrelevance in society, women were severely punished for adultery while it was a very light offense on the males part.
One of the similarities mentioned was that the men of the house made all decisions and were in charge. This is because among both China and the Mediterranean the idea of a patriarchy was imbedded in its citizens from birth. This means that young males grew up expecting future dominance and young girls accepted their inferiority.
Though the Mediterranean and China were both patriarchies, they each developed individual gender systems due to their own unique belief and government systems. In the Mediterranean, women did not enjoy all the rights that men did, but due to economic need some women were active in business and controlled urban land. In China the oppression on women was stronger than in the Mediterranean and they enjoyed little power, leaving more authority and control to the men.