Women in History

I agree with you. Japanese culture seemed to be way ahead of Western European culture in terms of women rights and position in society & culture. This is also true with some indigenous cultures.

Part of my thought as to why women carried their own names and property is kept through the female is because of the certainty that the child carries that family blood. In spanish there is a saying that talks about the certainty that you are your mother's child and uncertainty that you are your are your father's child. Therefore, there is never a doubt who your mother is but doubts when it comes to your father.

Yes, just think about the Jewish and even the Native Americans.

You are Jewish if your mother is, your father's background is almost never considered to determine if you are Jewish.

Native Americans, were a trully democratic society and held the wise woman as the center of their culture and tribes. Similarly to the idea that was discussed last Tuesday, they were considered connected to the earth, they were more part of mother earth because they gave birth to the next generation and educated and nurtured them as well

What happen in Europe? I blame religion!

Because even the pagan religions were woman centered (think of witches) or the myths of Greece. Zeus may have been King but Hera was just as much in charge and influential.
Seers were often more women then men, but it was very equal in myths and legends.

Certainly in many aspects of religion, we see the suppression of women.
That is interesting to learn about the impact of Virgen de Guadalupe and catholism.
What many people do not realize about Islam, is their respect for women.
Prophet Muhammed's 1st wife was about 15 years older then he, and she was a well-off business woman, who pursued him, after observing his piety and integrity. She was his only wife as long as she was alive. Thereafter he married all these other women for pratical reasons, as they were war bride ophans. One his wives headed an army to battle.
Women were given rights to own land as well as voting priveledges before womens rights hit the western civilization.

I think Western Religion placed women in an inferior position. Although we are supposedly in a modern age, I think the underpinnings of religion is still holding many women back.

I agree, I think as teachers, we can provide our students more opportunities to learn about groups that have usually do not have power or do not get to be part of the dominated voice. I remember reading Pearl S. Buck's "The Good Earth" as well and even as a Chinese American, that book gave me insights about women in China that I did not know about before.

I also recommend Amy Tan's The Kitchen God's Wife and The Joy Luck Club. The Joy Luck Club has been popularized by the film but The Kitchen God's Wife is a great book that gives insights to the life of a woman living in a male dominated Chinese society.