Comparing Patriarchies By: Alyssa, Perry, Jill, Akshay

Comparing Patriarchies: Overview Perry Patriarchies of the FIrst Civilizations were replicated and elaborated in Second Wave Civilizations Women’s subordination was so widespread that it was hard to track change Causes of patriarchies: New agricultural technologies RIse and decline of powerful states Incorporation of world religions Interactions with different cultures Earlier years of civilizations were lighter and less restrictive for women due to the focus on development However, women were active in their society, while still being confined to their overall subordination

Comparing Patriarchies: Overview [continued…] Perry Women served as: The central figure of family life Transmitters of cultures Occasionally inherited positions of power (scholars, managers of property, rulers, military leaders) Changes and challenges still fit in a patriarchal framework or “patriarchal equilibrium” Variations on patriarchies differed by civilization and social class China provides a clear example of patriarchy over time The civilizations of Greece (Athens and Sparta) are clear examples of patriarchal variations

IN WHAT WAYS DID THE EXPRESSION OF CHINESE PATRIARCHY CHANGE OVER TIME, AND WHY DID IT CHANGE?

The Case of China (pg ) Jill The Chinese civilization took place during the Han dynasty Gender issues became explicitly patriarchal. Also, they were more defined and linked to an emergency confucian ideology. Yang= masculine and related to heaven, rulers, strength, rationality, and light; whereas Yin= lower feminine principle, associated with the earth, subjects, weakness, emotion, and darkness The adage ”MEN GO OUT, WOMEN STAY IN” emphasized the public and political roles of men in contrast to the domestic and private domain of women Another idea was known as “three obediences”. Emphasized a woman’s subordination. It always was first to her father and then to her husband. The last one she had to listen to was her son. Yin is lowly and should not have the initiative; it proceeds to the yang in order to be completed

The Case of China continued… Jill ● Ban Zhao (court official and Chinese woman writer) had observed the ancients had practiced 3 customs when a baby girl was born: ○ placed below the bed to show that she was “lowly and weak,” always required to “humble herself before others” ○ given a piece of broken pottery to play with, signifying that her primary duty was to be industrious (diligent and hardworking) ○ her birth was announced to the ancestors with an offspring to indicate that she was responsible for the “continuation of ancestor worship in the home” ● Some women (wives, concubines, or widows of emperors) were able on occasion to exercise considerable political authorities. (some led peasant rebellions) ○ In doing so, it provoked anti-female hostility on the part of the male officials, who understood governance as a masculine task and often blamed the collapse of a dynasty or natural disasters on the “unnatural” and “disruptive” influence of women in political affairs ○ Some actually praised the women of virtue as wise counselors.

With her husband’s family a young woman= a subordinate as a wife and daughter in law. As a mother of sons=honor for her role in producing the next generation of male heirs to carry her husband’s lineage A women that was at least in the upper classes, often brought with her a considerable dowry, which was regarded as her own property and gave her some leverage within the marriage Women’s lives were more complex and varied than the prescriptions of Confucian orthodoxy might suggest A lot of things changed in China following the Han dynasty in the 3rd century C.E. The central government vanished amid much political fragmentation and conflict. The main ideology of Han China (Confucianism) was discredited Pastoral and nomadic peoples invaded northern China and ruled a number of the small states that had replaced the Han government The Case of China continued… Jill

The cultural influence of nomadic peoples, whose women were far less restricted than those of China, was noticed and criticized by male Confucian-minded male observers. Others also criticized the adoption of nomadic styles and cultures. By the Tang Dynasty writers/artists depicted women: Handling legal and business affairs independently Riding horses and playing polo Bareheaded and wearing men’s clothing Tang legal codes recognized a married daughter’s right to inherit property from her family of birth The reign of Empress Wu (r C.E.) further acknowledged a weakening patriarchy Former high ranking concubine in the imperial court Only woman ever to rule China with the title of emperor Governed despotically Commissioned biographies of famous women and decreeded the mourning period for mothers be equal to that for fathers Her reign was brief and unrepeated Daoism and Buddhism also reflected new images of the feminine and new roles for women. Overall, changed the tone and expression of patriarchy in China The Case of China continued… Perry

HOW DID THE PATRIARCHIES OF ATHENS AND SPARTA DIFFER FROM EACH OTHER?

Patriarchies : Athens Alyssa Athens was big on democracy and rationalism, but it was very restrictive towards what women could do. ● Growing limitations for women ○ women had no political role whatsoever ○ women needed to represented with a ‘guardian’ ○ they were to be referred as someone’s wife or someone’s mother ● Excluded from the public ○ Greek thinkers, such as Aristotle, came up with ideas to justify why women should be excluded from public life ○ “A woman is, as it were, an infertile male. She is female in fact on account of a kind of inadequacy.” ○ This ‘inadequacy’ was lacking the ability to produce sperm, which contained the soul of a new human being ● Athenian women were wed in their mid-teens to men ten to fifteen years. ● Their main function was to manage the household as well and have multiple sons. ○ The sons would get an education, while the daughters would learn to do household tasks. ■ The Greek writer Menander said: “Teaching a woman to read and write? What a terrible thing to do! Like feeding a vile snake on more poison.” ● Women did not have economic power.

Patriarchies: Athens [continued…] Alyssa Women could own land that was passed through male heirs. By law, women could not buy nor sell land, and they couldn’t negotiate contracts if the sum involved was valued at more than a bushel of barley. Aspasia (c B.C.E.) Born in the Greek city of Miletus born to a family that valued education for women Found her way to Athens and was given more freedom than was given normally to the women of Athens because of her foreign birth Attracted the attention of Pericles, Athens’ leading political figure They never married but they lived together until Pericles’ death in 429 B.C.E Though little is know about Aspasia, she was a rare and remarkable woman that offered opportunity for individuality or achievement to its female population Men were expected to exercise authority. limitations and restrictions of the lives of women

Patriarchies: Sparta Akshay Sparta: Spartan armies were highly militaristic and they were much less democratic. In Sparta men were sent out to train at the age of 7 to become militaristic warriors, and they returned at the age of 30. Women’s central task was reproduction To strengthen their bodies for childbearing, they took part in sporting events such as running and wrestling. Spartan women were not secluded from the public like Athenian women were; they had more freedoms. Married within their own age group, unlike their Athenian counterparts. The marriage started with a trial period to see whether or not the couple was fit for childbearing. If they weren’t, the couple would be divorced and would remarry. Men were always out preparing for war, so women were the authority of the household. Women controlled 30 percent of the land estates.

Patriarchies: Sparta [continued…] Akshay Women wore clothing that gave them more freedoms compared to the freedoms of Athenian women. Although women had more freedoms in Sparta than Athens, that can’t be said about people who were homosexual. Xenophon, an Athenian writer stated Spartan lawgiver Lycurgus “ caused lovers to abstain from sexual intercourse with boys” In other places, homoerotic relationships were common, Women were considered “breeding machines” (page 240) for the military system. Lacked formal role in public life Helots took a big part of the Spartan political system. Helots were the “slaves” of the time period. Overall Sparta was condemned for its militaristic society mindset. For women, death during childbirth was equivalent to death during battle. Since both childbirth, and fighting in battles contributed to the benefit of Sparta, they were honored in the same way. Lighter enforced patriarchy than that of Athens Overall, they also had more overall freedoms for the women in their societies. Compared to the patriarchies of Athens, Sparta treated its women much fairer because they weren’t oppressed as much, and had much more freedoms such as being able to marry within their own age group.

Quiz Time! Which of the two patriarchies in Greece was more strict, or had more limitations toward women? Athens: women had no power at all and the only land they could own had to be inherited Athenian women were wed in their mid teens to men almost twice their age, while Spartan women were wed in their age group Helots were the Spartan slaves, and lower class of people. Explain how women were wed in Athens vs Sparta. Name 1 out of the 3 ancient customs the Chinese Society practiced when a baby girl was born. Placed below the bed to show that she was “lowly and weak,” always required to “humble herself before others” Second one was given a piece of broken pottery to play with, signifying that her primary duty was to be industrious (diligent and hardworking). The last one was her birth was announced to the ancestors with an offspring to indicate that she was responsible for the “continuation of ancestor worship in the home” Who were the Helots?

Quiz Time! They competed in sporting events. How did Spartan men get ready to fight in battle? What did women do to prepare themselves for childbirth in Sparta? They left at the age of 7 to become militaristic warriors and returned at 30 years of age, ready to fight. What does Yin mean? Lower feminine principle, associated with the earth, subjects, weakness, emotion, and darkness Who was Ban Zhao and what did she do? Ban Zhao was a court official and Chinese woman writer and she had observed the ancients and how they practiced 3 customs when a baby girl was born

Quiz Time! What does Yang mean? Masculine and related to heaven, rulers, strength, rationality, and light Identify 3 key events/people associated with the change in the patriarchy of China. The invasion of nomadic and pastoral peoples The reign of Empress Wu The spread of Daoism and Buddhism in China