Social Status of Women

Every Society has its natural thing both man and woman on equal lines, as human beings. Unfortunately, in that society the relations between men and women are not equal. Men are considered in social, economic and political as dominated and strong where women are considered as weak and dependent to their opposite sex. History of mankind says that in ancient period, women had enjoyed equal status and prestige on par with men in all walks of life. In medieval period, throughout the word, religion dominated the state, and subjugated the women to men and religion. In modern period, with the advancement of education in many parts of the world, women started to obtain their lost status through the various kinds of activities. Women, in Indian society have had the experience from the very outset. Earlier times, women had the honorable and respectable position in the Rig Vedic period, they enjoyed the liberty, equality in social, economic and political life on par with men. Women used to control the family and worked for their families’ welfare. The society had experience with matriarchal families Rahul Sankrutyayan in his book Olga to Ganga and the African Writer Jomo Kenyatta in his Facing Mount Kenya referred to the matriarchal families. They advocated that in the days of matriarchal families. Women were physically stronger than men. Menstruation, Pregnancy and child birth have reduced the physical strength of women and at that time she had to depend on men for food, care a protection. This led to the change of matriarchal families changed to patriarchal families. Polygamy was introduced later. But it has been remarked that, women enjoyed a high respectable place in society and family.