Men have ruled since the earliest societies. In every stage of human history, women have been in margins, struggling through a second-class life.

It wasn’t just that women couldn’t vote or that they didn’t get equal pay. Women’s lives were like a horror story. Throughout our history, everyday life was filled with experiences that made being a woman a waking nightmare.

10Newborn Girls Were Regularly Left To Die

In ancient Athens, it was very common for a couple to take a newborn baby girl out in the wilderness and leave it to die—an act they called “exposing” the baby. “Everybody raises a son even if he is a poor,” one Greek writer wrote, “but exposes a daughter even if he is rich.”

In Rome, this was just as common, especially in poor families. We have records of a lower-class Roman writing to his wife about her pregnancy. “A daughter is too burdensome, and we just don’t have the money,” he told her. “If you should bear a girl, we’ll have to kill her.”

Even in Egypt, which gave women comparatively equal rights, the poor often left kids to die. “If you have the baby before I return,” one letter shows an Egyptian man writing his wife, “if it is a boy, let it live; if it is a girl, expose it.”

9Men Wouldn’t Touch Menstruating Women

The Roman philosopher Pliny The Elder wrote, “On the approach of a woman in this state, milk will become sour.” He figured menstruating women could kill everything they looked at, even saying, “A swarm of bees, if looked upon by her, will die immediately.”

In Egypt, the women spent their menstrual cycles isolated in a special building men couldn’t enter—and they weren’t only ones to do it. The Israelites wouldn’t even touch a woman during her period—or, for that matter, anything she touched. “Everything on which she sits,” they wrote, “shall be unclean.” And in Hawaii, men who entered the hut for menstruating women risked the death penalty.

The natives of Papua New Guinea took it the farthest. If a man touched a menstruating women, they believed, it would “kill his blood so that it turns black, dull his wits, and lead to a slow death.”

8Losing Your Virginity Was A Death Sentence

In Athens, if a man found out that his unmarried daughter had slept with a man, he could legally sell her into slavery. The Samoans made sure that their wives were virgins—and that everyone knew. During a Samoan wedding, the chief of the tribe would manually rupture the bride’s hymen with his fingers in front of a crowd to prove that she was pure.

In Rome, if a priestess of the goddess Vesta lost her virginity before the age of 30, she was buried alive. And in ancient Israel, it didn’t even matter if you were a priestess. Any woman who lost her virginity before marriage could be stoned to death.

7Men Were Expected To Be Sexual Predators

In Rome, slaves were expected to sexually active as part of their jobs. The only way you could get in trouble for sleeping with a slave was if she was owned by somebody else and you didn’t ask first. Even then, it wouldn’t considered rape—it just classified as property damage.

Women with some jobs couldn’t file rape charges no matter what happened to them. It wasn’t just prostitutes that couldn’t accuse anyone of rape—waitresses and actresses, too, were treated as willing participants of any sex a man forced upon them. In one case, an actress gang-raped by several men was denied permission to press charges. The men who assaulted her, it was ruled, had simple “acted in accordance with a well-established tradition at a staged event.”

In the middle ages, Saint Augustine was considered progressive for suggesting that raped women didn’t need to kill themselves. Even he, though, suggested that some women enjoyed it.

6Brides Were Often Kidnapped

In some parts of China, people were kidnapping brides until the 1940s. In Japan, the last reported case of bride kidnapping happened in 1959. Ireland had a widespread problem with bride stealing in the 1800s. And even the Bible relates stories of men slaughtering whole villages and taking the virgin women as wives.

Rome wouldn’t even exist without kidnapped brides. The legends of the nation start with men kidnapping the Sabine women. In the story, Romulus tells the women they she be happy to be kidnapped, because they were lucky enough to “live in honorable wedlock.”

5Women Were Forced To Kill Their Babies

Murdering frail babies wasn’t just something that happened in Sparta. In almost every country, when a woman gave birth to a deformed child, she was expected to kill it. In Rome, it was the law. “A dreadfully deformed child,” Roman law mandated, “shall be quickly killed.”

If a Roman child was born with a disability, the mother had two choices. She could either suffocate it or, more often, she could abandon it. Some places were horrible for this. On the shore of Israel, archaeologists found the remains of 100 dead babies in the city’s sewers.

It happened a lot. We don’t know the exact number of babies that were left to die, but it’s believed that one out of every four Roman babies didn’t make it through the first year of life.

4Women Were Barely Allowed To Talk

In ancient Greece and Rome, women were forbidden from leaving the home without a male escort. When company came over, they weren’t allowed to speak or to sit down for dinner—they had to retire to their rooms, out of sight, lest the presence of a woman bother the men.

In Denmark, unruly women who bickered or who openly expressed their anger could end up locked up in a device called a shrew’s fiddle. This was a wooden trap shaped like a violin that bound her hands and her face. The woman would be paraded down the streets, publicly shamed for having openly shown anger.

The English were even worse. They put quarrelsome women in the scold’s bridle, a metal mask with sharp teeth that had a bell attached—to make sure everyone came out and mocked the woman who dared complain.

3Adulterers Were Tortured

If a married woman dared to sleep with another man, it was over. A Roman man, under certain circumstance, would have the right to kill his wife if he caught her in bed with another man. Even the Puritans who colonized America took the biblical approach and legally condoned murdering adulterers.

Again, though, it was the medieval men who did the worst things. They weren’t content to just kill their wives—they wanted them to suffer. In medieval times, they had a device called a breast ripper that they used on women who had affairs—which does exactly what it says.

It’s a horrible torture—and it wasn’t even limited to adultery. A woman could be sentenced to the ripper just for having a miscarriage.

2Women Were Killed With Their Husbands

Until the 19th century, a woman in India who lost her husband was expected to climb onto his funeral pyre and burn herself to death along with him. Sometimes, during war, women would be expected to do this even before their husbands died. If a siege was going poorly, all the women of the village would burn themselves alive and take their children with them.

The husbands would just watch as their families burned. Then, in the morning, they would smear their wives’ ashes on their faces and go to war. These women killed themselves just to give their husbands a little extra motivation.

1Women Have Gone Through This Since The Beginning Of Humanity

Even before recorded history, the very earliest marriages were extremely one-sided. Archaeologists looking a prehistoric remains in Africa found the men all stayed in one place their whole lives—but every one of the women was born somewhere else.

That means that even cavemen had one-sided relationships, making their new wives move to their homes when they started a family. More importantly, it makes it highly likely that these women didn’t come consensually. Most likely, they were probably kidnapped from their families in other tribes and dragged to the beds of their captors.

The Irish have been a very famous, funny, feisty, vibrant people with their quick wit, love of laughter and their wholehearted kindness and turbulent history. However, these terrific people have often been stereotyped and misunderstood. Meet an Irishman and you automatically assume he/she is what the stereotypes say. So here we are, showing you how to make an Irishman or woman like you –

‘Stereotypes are written into society’s walls. It’s whether we read the graffiti that counts’

1. Do Not Under Any Circumstances Assume Irish Are Stupid

Irish people have been stereotyped as stupid for centuries. This myth started a long while ago when the Irish went, uneducated, to England, looking for a job. Englishmen started telling and making up stories and jokes about the stupidity of the Irishman. As an Irish girl, I can honestly tell you, we don’t take kindly to misguided attempts of understanding personalities by their nationality.

It’s like saying the French are womanisers, or the English snobby except Irish people have been proven to be some of the smartest in the globe. How’d you like it if you were automatic considered dumb? I don’t like it either. The Irish have been known for their quick wit.

See also: The 10 most beautiful Irish Women.

2. Let Them Talk and Tell Stories

Once an Irish person gets going, they really do get going. Encouragingly, invite them to share their own yarns and stories, for the Irish love the craic, and soon you will be laughing your head off at the hilarity, charm, wittiness and banter that arouses in the stories.

So letting them tell stories is one the ways to make an Irishman or woman like you. Show interest in stories and you will have a personally embroidered cushion at the dinner table for the Irish will love you and they also love educating, and it’s a truly remarkable thing to be educated in the Irish way.

The Irish have a very funny, vibrant way of telling stories that will remain with you for a very long time. Irish storytelling is like a personality contest: it’s engaging, OTT, dramatic, hilarious but very enjoyable. The more stories told, the more the Irish person will have a connection with you, so they will enjoy your company.

3. Don’t Think Red Haired People are Horrible

I have a lot of red-haired mates who are the loveliest people I know and most of them don’t give a hoot about their hair color. Red hair was become so very admirable in recent times and the Irish are quite proud of it, but please don’t think we all are ginger. In my class of thirty-two, only two people are ginger. Sadly, I am not of the minority.

The Irish have been (quite famously) renowned for their impatient, volatile nature, but rest assured, I, as an Irish lass, can tell you that this is absolute nonsense. We Irish are passionate but will only loose our cool if irked. We are like the snakes St. Patrick drove out. We are temperamental, but only strike if attacked. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting an Irishman, don’t be in fear, be friendly.

4. Compliment the Food

Praising the Irish food is one of the easiest ways to make an Irishman or woman like you. Irish stew, wheaten bread (yum yum!) and champ make every traditional Irish menu. The Irish, being uneducated as they were, were very proud to have accomplished such great culinary feats, the recipe was soon passed round and the whole country was making these dishes within a few years.

Throughout famine years, when the formidable potato crop failed, the country was left starving. The country’s natural resources and the sheer determination of the people will have you gasping with wonder at the incredible tricks the Irish have pulled off throughout history.

The most important thing to compliment, however, is the full Ulster breakfast eggs, bacon, sausages, black pudding, potato bread, soda bread, beans, toast, mushrooms and fried tomatoes with a warm cuppa is the perfect start to anyone’s day, especially when receiving a warm thank you in return. One note however: be prepared. The Irish are used to hard toil, so have mammoth food portions.

5. Engross Yourself Fully In Proper Irish History

Make a real effort to find out about the country if you are ever travelling to Ireland or visiting an Irish person. Our history is illustrious, troublesome yet courageous in every shape and form, so it is exceeding interesting actually to know what has happened in our brave wee country.

From street fights to hunger strikes, Peace Protests to Paisley, we have a very extraordinary and significant place in our history books. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting an Irish person, find out their history. I can honestly guarantee you now, you will be hooked. Like a fish at the end of a rod. Fishing (btw) is a very popular industry in Ireland.

As is farming, agriculture, glass making and computing. Irish people will love you if you know their history as it shows they are more than just a stereotype. History is the path to the heart and one of the several ways to make an Irishman or woman like you.

6. Join In With the Celebration That Is Music

Traditional Irish folk music has gained worldwide recognition for its lively style and fast-pacing. It has been said that Irish music is popular as it has a similar tone to the Irish people themselves. Devoted Irish music listeners can easily make an Irishman or woman like you. Several countries and western stars have Irish roots but more significantly, many are actually Irish born-and-bred men and women.

From Daniel O’Donnell to One Direction, there is a sound for everyone that has Irish in its blood. Irish music sessions are still going extremely strong throughout the isle with many villages and towns have weekly, monthly and annual music sessions.

The most popular songs are jigs, airs, hornpipes; slip jigs and reels whereas the most popular instruments are fiddles, tin whistles, flutes, concertinas and guitars. Every Irishman/woman always enjoys a bit of traditional Irish music so they will really love you if you show a keen interest.

See also: The 10 most beautiful women in the world.

7. Visit and Explore Our Wee Isle

Many of Ireland’s top cities such as Dublin, Belfast and Derry offer plenty of unforgettable sights and experience such as the RDS, Titanic and the City of Culture(Derry) but there are loads of hidden, extraordinary special gems dotted all over the country. In places such as Portstewart you have the opportunity to cross the world’s scariest rope bridge.

I’m not going to lie that view will bring your to your knees, senseless at the beauty. In the big cities you can enjoy fantastic shopping experiences but in the countryside there is nothing like a good long hike. The Irish will love you so very much if you show an interest in exploring our beautiful wee country as it shows how fascinating out country is, making you, the explorer, and the most loved bloke in the country.

8. Sport Is a Massive Part in Ireland’s Culture

Our nation has invented many weird, wacky but wonderful sports such as hurling and Gaelic. It is a popular pastime on a Sunday afternoon to go to the pub and watch the match with your friends. Ireland has become known for its sports and there are even Gaelic teams in places like London, Boston and New York.

The Irish people are exceedingly loyal at supporting football, camogie and hurling matches, whether it local, regional off on a national level. In sports, the Irish have been known to easily start a fight. There is bad blood and fierce competition between neighbouring teams and it makes great viewing to the reader to see the ball at one end of the pitch and a right at the other.

The Irish (as I’ve mentioned) are feisty so note: don’t distract them whilst they’re playing sport unless you wish to feel the wrath of the Irish (ostensibly). The Irish will love you so much if you follow Irish sport as it’s a way of life more than a hobby for so many people. Sports is pretty much the easiest way to make an Irishman or woman like you.

9. Alcohol Is a Humongous Stereotype Associated With Irish People

If has been recognized throughout the world that the Irish love to drink, especially Guinness. This stereotype is a very mixed balance. Some Irish are devout Catholics and never touch a drop of alcohol whereas some other constantly knocks back the booze. I think it is really rather wrong to categories the whole country as drunken maniacs although I have sent numerous of them.

There are thousands of Irish pubs that are thriving as they are so in demand at the moment. They say there is nothing better than to go for an Irish drink after work but not many people actually follow this behavior. The Irish people will love you enormously if you don’t mention alcohol until they do as it’s a judge of your character n whether you believe or not that all Irish stereotypes are true.

10. Finally, We Have the Irish People Themselves

We Irish lads and ladies have been fortunate enough to have been granted with a lot of luck, a kind heart, a sharp wit and a clever mind. This is not a stereotype; you have to live alongside the Irish to know what terrific people they are. Trust me on the fact that I’m not being biased. You cannot help but fall in love with the Irish people.

The key rule to getting s tough Irish person to like you is to like them for being themselves and not for stereotypes. Love the Irish for who they are and that’s one of the easiest ways of make an Irishman or woman like you.

Top 10 Ways to Make an Irishman or Woman Like You

1. Do Not Under Any Circumstances Assume They Are Stupid
2. Let Them Talk and Tell Stories
3. Don’t Think Red Haired People are Horrible
4. Compliment the Food
5. Engross Yourself Fully In Proper Irish History
6. Join In With the Celebration That Is Music
7. Visit and Explore Our Wee Isle
8. Sport Is a Massive Part in Ireland’s Culture
9. Alcohol Is a Humongous Stereotype Associated With Irish People
10. Finally, We Have the Irish People Themselves

Written by: Margo Green

Related Posts

The Irish have been a very famous, funny, feisty, vibrant people with their quick wit, love of laughter and their wholehearted kindness and turbulent history. However, these terrific people have often been stereotyped and misunderstood. Meet an Irishman and you automatically assume he/she is what the stereotypes say. So here we are, showing you how to make an Irishman or woman like you –

‘Stereotypes are written into society’s walls. It’s whether we read the graffiti that counts’

1. Do Not Under Any Circumstances Assume Irish Are Stupid

Irish people have been stereotyped as stupid for centuries. This myth started a long while ago when the Irish went, uneducated, to England, looking for a job. Englishmen started telling and making up stories and jokes about the stupidity of the Irishman. As an Irish girl, I can honestly tell you, we don’t take kindly to misguided attempts of understanding personalities by their nationality.

It’s like saying the French are womanisers, or the English snobby except Irish people have been proven to be some of the smartest in the globe. How’d you like it if you were automatic considered dumb? I don’t like it either. The Irish have been known for their quick wit.

See also: The 10 most beautiful Irish Women.

2. Let Them Talk and Tell Stories

Once an Irish person gets going, they really do get going. Encouragingly, invite them to share their own yarns and stories, for the Irish love the craic, and soon you will be laughing your head off at the hilarity, charm, wittiness and banter that arouses in the stories.

So letting them tell stories is one the ways to make an Irishman or woman like you. Show interest in stories and you will have a personally embroidered cushion at the dinner table for the Irish will love you and they also love educating, and it’s a truly remarkable thing to be educated in the Irish way.

The Irish have a very funny, vibrant way of telling stories that will remain with you for a very long time. Irish storytelling is like a personality contest: it’s engaging, OTT, dramatic, hilarious but very enjoyable. The more stories told, the more the Irish person will have a connection with you, so they will enjoy your company.

3. Don’t Think Red Haired People are Horrible

I have a lot of red-haired mates who are the loveliest people I know and most of them don’t give a hoot about their hair color. Red hair was become so very admirable in recent times and the Irish are quite proud of it, but please don’t think we all are ginger. In my class of thirty-two, only two people are ginger. Sadly, I am not of the minority.

The Irish have been (quite famously) renowned for their impatient, volatile nature, but rest assured, I, as an Irish lass, can tell you that this is absolute nonsense. We Irish are passionate but will only loose our cool if irked. We are like the snakes St. Patrick drove out. We are temperamental, but only strike if attacked. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting an Irishman, don’t be in fear, be friendly.

4. Compliment the Food

Praising the Irish food is one of the easiest ways to make an Irishman or woman like you. Irish stew, wheaten bread (yum yum!) and champ make every traditional Irish menu. The Irish, being uneducated as they were, were very proud to have accomplished such great culinary feats, the recipe was soon passed round and the whole country was making these dishes within a few years.

Throughout famine years, when the formidable potato crop failed, the country was left starving. The country’s natural resources and the sheer determination of the people will have you gasping with wonder at the incredible tricks the Irish have pulled off throughout history.

The most important thing to compliment, however, is the full Ulster breakfast eggs, bacon, sausages, black pudding, potato bread, soda bread, beans, toast, mushrooms and fried tomatoes with a warm cuppa is the perfect start to anyone’s day, especially when receiving a warm thank you in return. One note however: be prepared. The Irish are used to hard toil, so have mammoth food portions.

5. Engross Yourself Fully In Proper Irish History

Make a real effort to find out about the country if you are ever travelling to Ireland or visiting an Irish person. Our history is illustrious, troublesome yet courageous in every shape and form, so it is exceeding interesting actually to know what has happened in our brave wee country.

From street fights to hunger strikes, Peace Protests to Paisley, we have a very extraordinary and significant place in our history books. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting an Irish person, find out their history. I can honestly guarantee you now, you will be hooked. Like a fish at the end of a rod. Fishing (btw) is a very popular industry in Ireland.

As is farming, agriculture, glass making and computing. Irish people will love you if you know their history as it shows they are more than just a stereotype. History is the path to the heart and one of the several ways to make an Irishman or woman like you.

6. Join In With the Celebration That Is Music

Traditional Irish folk music has gained worldwide recognition for its lively style and fast-pacing. It has been said that Irish music is popular as it has a similar tone to the Irish people themselves. Devoted Irish music listeners can easily make an Irishman or woman like you. Several countries and western stars have Irish roots but more significantly, many are actually Irish born-and-bred men and women.

From Daniel O’Donnell to One Direction, there is a sound for everyone that has Irish in its blood. Irish music sessions are still going extremely strong throughout the isle with many villages and towns have weekly, monthly and annual music sessions.

The most popular songs are jigs, airs, hornpipes; slip jigs and reels whereas the most popular instruments are fiddles, tin whistles, flutes, concertinas and guitars. Every Irishman/woman always enjoys a bit of traditional Irish music so they will really love you if you show a keen interest.

See also: The 10 most beautiful women in the world.

7. Visit and Explore Our Wee Isle

Many of Ireland’s top cities such as Dublin, Belfast and Derry offer plenty of unforgettable sights and experience such as the RDS, Titanic and the City of Culture(Derry) but there are loads of hidden, extraordinary special gems dotted all over the country. In places such as Portstewart you have the opportunity to cross the world’s scariest rope bridge.

I’m not going to lie that view will bring your to your knees, senseless at the beauty. In the big cities you can enjoy fantastic shopping experiences but in the countryside there is nothing like a good long hike. The Irish will love you so very much if you show an interest in exploring our beautiful wee country as it shows how fascinating out country is, making you, the explorer, and the most loved bloke in the country.

8. Sport Is a Massive Part in Ireland’s Culture

Our nation has invented many weird, wacky but wonderful sports such as hurling and Gaelic. It is a popular pastime on a Sunday afternoon to go to the pub and watch the match with your friends. Ireland has become known for its sports and there are even Gaelic teams in places like London, Boston and New York.

The Irish people are exceedingly loyal at supporting football, camogie and hurling matches, whether it local, regional off on a national level. In sports, the Irish have been known to easily start a fight. There is bad blood and fierce competition between neighbouring teams and it makes great viewing to the reader to see the ball at one end of the pitch and a right at the other.

The Irish (as I’ve mentioned) are feisty so note: don’t distract them whilst they’re playing sport unless you wish to feel the wrath of the Irish (ostensibly). The Irish will love you so much if you follow Irish sport as it’s a way of life more than a hobby for so many people. Sports is pretty much the easiest way to make an Irishman or woman like you.

9. Alcohol Is a Humongous Stereotype Associated With Irish People

If has been recognized throughout the world that the Irish love to drink, especially Guinness. This stereotype is a very mixed balance. Some Irish are devout Catholics and never touch a drop of alcohol whereas some other constantly knocks back the booze. I think it is really rather wrong to categories the whole country as drunken maniacs although I have sent numerous of them.

There are thousands of Irish pubs that are thriving as they are so in demand at the moment. They say there is nothing better than to go for an Irish drink after work but not many people actually follow this behavior. The Irish people will love you enormously if you don’t mention alcohol until they do as it’s a judge of your character n whether you believe or not that all Irish stereotypes are true.

10. Finally, We Have the Irish People Themselves

We Irish lads and ladies have been fortunate enough to have been granted with a lot of luck, a kind heart, a sharp wit and a clever mind. This is not a stereotype; you have to live alongside the Irish to know what terrific people they are. Trust me on the fact that I’m not being biased. You cannot help but fall in love with the Irish people.

The key rule to getting s tough Irish person to like you is to like them for being themselves and not for stereotypes. Love the Irish for who they are and that’s one of the easiest ways of make an Irishman or woman like you.

Top 10 Ways to Make an Irishman or Woman Like You

1. Do Not Under Any Circumstances Assume They Are Stupid
2. Let Them Talk and Tell Stories
3. Don’t Think Red Haired People are Horrible
4. Compliment the Food
5. Engross Yourself Fully In Proper Irish History
6. Join In With the Celebration That Is Music
7. Visit and Explore Our Wee Isle
8. Sport Is a Massive Part in Ireland’s Culture
9. Alcohol Is a Humongous Stereotype Associated With Irish People
10. Finally, We Have the Irish People Themselves

Written by: Margo Green

Related Posts

It wasn’t until the passage of the 19th amendment nearly 100 years ago that women could vote in America. Just two centuries ago, American women had few rights. If they earned money, their husbands got to spend it as they saw fit. Divorce was hard to obtain even for men who were abused. When women started protesting for the right to vote, they were met with violence as well as scorn. All of this would mean that we wouldn’t judge someone if they thought life in the ancient world was even worse for women. However, there have been times and situations in history when being a woman was advantageous. Below are ten upsides to being a woman throughout history.

See Also: Top 10 Reasons The Dark Ages Were Not Dark

10 Spartan Women Got to Stay Home While the Men Were Away

Many of us know that Spartan women had more rights than women in other Greek city-states. They also led lives than their husbands may have been jealous of. The advantages of being female in Sparta started during childhood. Spartan girls got to compete in athletic competitions — naked — with the boys. Spartan women were allowed to exchange words with men along with blows. Spartan women were not allowed to hold jobs, but they could earn money through the property they owned, which was sometimes given by the government. All of these liberties were given to Spartan women so they would birth fine babies that would grow up to be skillful soldiers. While Spartan women were allowed to live relatively freely at home, all Spartan men who were citizens were subject to compulsory military service. Their lives were dangerous and their wives sometimes profited financially from their death. Spartan men’s lives were not only dangerous, but tough and during their time of military service, it could be argued that they had less freedom than Spartan women.^[10]

9Women Were Sometimes Put in Power Because of Their Gender

In ancient Egypt, women were sometimes installed into power precisely the same reason women leaders are criticized for today: their gender. This was because women were seen as the safer option during times of turmoil. While most pharaohs were men, women were sometimes allowed to rule as regents for their younger male relatives. They were expected to protect the future pharaoh and rule wisely until they were old enough to make their own decisions. The first Epytian queen who took up the throne while waiting for her son to grow up was Queen Merneith of the first dynasty (ca. 3000-2890 B.C) after the death of her husband. Similarly, Queen Hatshesput ruled as regent for her nephew. Queens didn’t always take control while waiting for their sons to grow up, though. Queen Neferusobek assumed control after her husband’s death because her husband had no heir and Cleopata VII had her brothers killed to cement her control of the throne.^[9]

8 Greek Women Were Feared to be Too Clever

Sexism is an interesting beast that morphs depending on the situation. It is important to note that the views of women depended on the individual, but Hesiod’s Theogony suggests that some Greek men feared women because of their cleverness. In the Theogony, it is women who instigate rebellion. It is Gaia who devises a plan to kill Ouranos, though her son Kronos does the actual killing. Rhea deceives her husband Kronos into swallowing a swaddled stone instead of Zeus, so that he is able to grow up and topple his father. Perhaps what mostly clearly expresses Hesiod’s sexism is his opinion of Pandora whom he writes that “Wonder held immortal gods and mortal men, / when they saw a sheer cunning, unmanageable for men./ For from her is the descent of female women / [for the race and tribes of women are destructive,] / a great pain for mortals, living with men, / companions not of destructive Poverty but of Plenty.” (Hesiod lines 588-593). This passage articulate Hesiod’s conception of women: women are to be kept in their place because they are dangerous. In Hesiod’s Theogony, women shouldn’t be denied rights because they are unintelligent, but because they are too clever. Pandora is the perfect punishment for humanity because she is a woman, who are described as “sheer cunning.”. Though women in ancient Greece suffered from the effects of sexism like women in other cultures, at least it sometimes was because they were seen as too capable instead of not capable enough.^[8]

7 Greek Male Lovers Were Killed Instead of Adulteresses

Adulteresses in ancient Greece didn’t get off lightly unless their husband decided to keep their wife’s infidelity secret. They were divorced — a huge blow in a society where women were forced to depend on men, denied the right to attend religious functions, and were seen as so low that strangers were now encouraged to beat them. However, when compared to the punishment of their lovers, adulteresses could be seen as lucky. If a man in Athens found him wife coupling with a man, he could kill the man without being found guilty of murder. This law reflects the fact that such killings were seen as justified. Killing a man for raping a female relative was also justified. In Greek mythology, the god of war, Ares, killed Posiedon’s son, Halirrhothios, for raping his daughter. Posiedon complained and the gods put Ares on trial, ultimately finding him not guilty. In some versions of the myth, Ares kills Halirrhothios while he is attacking his daughter, while at other times he does it afterwards in revenge. Either way, it reflects an idea that men should protect their daughters from rape and that violence is an acceptable way to do so.^[7]

6 Matriarchies

While most traditional and modern societies are either patriarchal or egalitarian, some ancient societies were matriarchies. Some of these matriarchal societies still exist today. On the island of Kihnu, women are in charge because of a centuries-long tradition of men travelling from the island to find food or employment. Due to the fact that men were often not home, women were left in charge. Today, the island relies on government assistance and tourism to keep their traditional way of life intact. In China, the Mosou society is matrilineal because the father is often unknown. Tourists come to see the Mosou because their traditional way of life, stretching back thousands of years, is matriarchal with female heading the households.^[6]

5Pleading the Belly

Pregnancy truly is miraculous, but in some situations, it is even more welcomed than others. If an English women found herself facing the death penalty, she could claim to be pregnant to push back the date of her pregnancy — provided she was tried between 1387 and 1931. Whether a woman was actually pregnant or not was less important than whether she claimed to be. Recognizing that most mothers knew more about pregnancy than most men, female criminals who claimed to be pregnant were required to appear before a court of matrons who would evaluate their claim. Whether the court of matrons decided that the woman was pregnant was a deciding factor in if the accused’s life was spared. However, women who claimed to be pregnant also had to be examined by the judge.^[5]

4 They Could Be the Wives of Gods

One way women have been able to use to gain power for thousands of years is through marriage. Some women were more creative than others and rather than marrying a wealthy man, Enheduanna simply married a god. Enheduanna was the daughter of Sargon the Great, a famous poet, and the high priestess. Enheduanna’s claim of being beloved by the gods was in her name itself, which translates as “En-Priestess, wife of the god Nanna”. Enheduanna presided over Ur as the high priestess for four decades, though she was temporarily exiled. Men also claimed to have divine consorts. As the goddess of both war and love Inana was one of the most powerful deities in the Mesoptoamian pantheon and kings often claimed to be husband. Kings even legitimized their divine claim to the throne through a ceremony known as a sacred marriage where the wedding of Inana and Dumzi was reenacted by the high priestess of Inana and the king. Thus, women in ancient Mesopotamia could bolster their claim to power by claiming to be the consort of a male deity, while Mesopotamian kings legitimized their claims to the throne by claiming to be the lover of a female deity.^[4]

3 Women May Have Painted a Lot of Cave Art

Women have left their mark on history in many ways, but some ways were more prominent and direct than others. One of the most direct ways women influenced history was through art. By examining the hand and finger ratios (which differ depending on gender) of Paleolithic cave art, scientists concluded that women may have painted up to 75% of cave art. Another scientist claimed that the art was actually painted by adolescent boys who liked to depict animals and nude women. However, it is interesting to think about women shaping the world — sometimes quite literally by painting their own hands onto cave walls.^[3]

2 Strong Women

Women in the ancient world didn’t just sweep their houses, mind their children, and style their hair. Instead, they sometimes worked like men. Between 7,500 and 2,000 years ago, women in Europe have worked outside the home as well as inside of it. Sometimes, their work was physically demanding. Archaeologists at Cambridge University examined the bones of European women to determine what kind of tasks they performed. Most of the women’s bones indicated that they had arms that would make elite rowers today envious. These findings suggest that women in early Europe farmed alongside men. However, the manual labor of women in early Europe may have been overlooked because of sexism of modern day scientists. Men tend to build muscle more easily than women and by overlooking this fact, scientists may have underestimated the amount of physical labor women in ancient societies performed.^[2]

1 Scythian Women Fought Like Men

While some cultures throughout history were matriarchal, others were egalitarian. The Scythians, who may have inspired the Greek myths of the Amazons, was one such egalitarian society. Scythian society revolved around horses, which may explain why both Scythian men and women were allowed to chase down game and charge into battle. Scythian warriors were formidable because they used small bows and rode horseback, allowing them to cut down enemies from a distance. Scythians not only enjoyed the breeze against their faces as they rode, but they also liked to smoke hemp and drink a beverage called kumis made of fermented horse milk. Scythian women may have fostered their sons into other tribes to build alliances, which may be why Greek writers accused Amazons of being boy-killers and bad mothers. The prowess of Scythian women is so great that myths inspired by them are still believed and debated today. Perhaps their greatest legacy is that the fear and admiration they drew from contemporaries still persists long after the last Scythian warrior died.^[1]