What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a
good example of a modern woman? Smart, perhaps, or hard-working? A
strong, independent, self-sufficient person who is capable of doing all
that she wishes.
Now, imagine yourself as someone living in 18th century England. What is your idea of a good woman? Beautiful and respectful, of course, smart enough to hold a short conversation. But, most importantly, obedient and . How does this perception of women differ from our modern views on women?
200 years ago women were not free to do or say what they like, as we are now. They were the property of their husband, had they been lucky enough to have one, or of their father. There was no freedom for those women, and it has taken hundreds of years of sacrifice for women to reach the high point in society that we live in now.
The idea of a husband controlling his wife is still prominent in modern books and television, as men are still the dominant sex in our culture. Many women remain housewives and leave the bread winning up to their spouse. However today a woman can choose her own path and support herself if she so chooses, which was an option not unavailable to women in the past.
In my next three posts I'm going to look at why women in the past were so oppressed, how women of today are limited, an what these thing say about our society as a whole. More importantly, though, what they say about men.
Women do have more choices today, but is that always a good thing? And aren't some of our choices non choices, in a way. Only a few women can afford to choose whether or not to work, many would like to stay home but need two incomes!
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