Stewart Wenner

Women DBQ

Document Summaries

Document 1
-chart showing the number of queens in different nations
-also lists the total number of years ruled
-overall, it appears that the European nations featured more queens and empresses
who also lasted in power for a longer period of time
-African, Asian, Pacific, and American rulers feature in general many less rulers and
shorter periods of rule (though this may be a result of more recent independence)

Document 2
-written by Ban Zhao, foremost female Confucian scholar of her time
-from Lessons for Women (110 CE)
-ancients observed three customs
-place baby below the bed, give piece of broken pottery, announce her birth to
ancestors as sacrifice
-lay baby below bed to show weakness
-signify she should practice labor and only be industrious
-continuation of observation of worship
-epitomize a woman’s ordinary way of life
-shows the prejudice against women
-early on in life, girls were shunned and forced to live dreary lives

Document 3
-written by Thema Khumalo, Zimbabwean guerilla
-women fought in the war
-made her proud
-children were proud, saw women were not cowards – were instead strong
-provided everything fighters needed
-fought just as hard as men, accepted death
-argues that women fought stronger/better than men
-resulted in being noticed, became members of Parliament
-shows steps forward women were taking

Document 4
-written by Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, Roman Catholic run
-late 1600s, response to bishop criticism
-had learned hot to read and write (as well as the “usual” female skills)
-was a university in Mexico, wanted to study there
-still was good at reading
-became a nun, didn’t want to marry, freedom to study
-doesn’t think she should be blamed for her actions
-believes she should be given credit just as a man would for accomplishing this
-interpretation of Holy Scripture should be forbidden to men also

Document 5
-from Hebrew Book of Proverbs, 6th century BCE
-when one finds a good wife, she has great value
-husband has a great prize
-she brings good all of her life
-makes cloth, secures provisions, rises at night, picks out field, plants vineyard
-very strong and sturdy
-always doing helpful, kind things to everyone
-husband is prominent
-“opens her mouth in wisdom”
-tongue is kindly counsel
-shows respect that Jewish people had for women/wives

Document 6
-written by Al-Mawardi
-11th century CE Muslim jurist
-nobody can be appointed as a judge who doesn’t fit the requirements
-first of all, must be a man (puberty and masculinity)
-women are unsuited to positions of authority
-verdicts may be based on what they say
-not lawful for her to testify, then may not be judge
-men have authority over women (from Quran)

Document 7
-written by Ida Husted Harper
-for American magazine Independent, 1901 CE
-when we accept women must enter wage-earning occupations based on poverty,
then labor standards decrease and women’s status falls
-women are necessary, go outside of home to work, were humiliated
-insignificant jobs open with little pay
-barriers began to fall, however
-women frequently elected to high offices
-should not be carried on solely in the house

Document 8
-City of Magdeburg (Holy Roman Empire) code of city laws
-written in 1261 CE
-if a man dies and his wife is left alive, she has no rights to his property except what
he gives her in court
-must have six witnesses to approve dower
-children will support if not given anything
-woman must have consent of husband to give away money
-wife gives to heirs the man’s military equipment, and basic provisions
-gold and silver never belong to the woman
-keeps all the worthless items

Document 9
-written by M. N. Srinivas, Indian anthropologist
-late 1940s CE
-sex divided the labor
-true for all castes
-kitchen was recognized sphere of feminine activity
-income determined women’s roles
-women from richest households stayed in homes, poorer worked in fields
-males always led

Thesis:
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