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
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