The writing of women's history has always been closely linked with contemporary

feminist politics as well as with changes in the discipline of history itself. When women
sought to question inequalities in their own lives they turned to history to understand the
roots of their oppression and to see what they could learn from challenges that had
been made in the past. If a woman's role could be shown to be socially constructed
within a specific historical context, rather than natural and universal, then feminists
could argue that it was open to change.
Women traditionally had been regarded as inferior to men physically and intellectually.
Both law and theology had ordered their subjection. Women could not possess property
in their own names, engage in business, or control the disposal of their children or even
of their own persons. Although Mary Astell and others had pleaded earlier for larger
opportunities for women, the first feminist document was Mary Wollstonecraft's
Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792). In the French Revolution, women's
republican clubs demanded that liberty, equality, and fraternity be applied regardless of
sex, but this movement was extinguished for the time by the Code Napolon.

I will explain womens position in different time in history.

1.
2.

Women in Prehistoric era:

Womens position in Middle Age:

Women had a respectable status in old age, but in the middle age their position reduced
in to the worse point. In present time womens position is much better than the women
of middle age. Probably in Middle age women faced the worse status in history.
In Middle age womens oppression raised in the top with help of church and king or lord
or in a word the state. Betting women was legal until any damage of her limb. Rape was
forbidden but was not punishable. Moreover in case of pregnancy of women, its
considered as the willing act of women and she would be neglected by society.
Now we can conclude that in Middle age dominating on women was not rejected. Then
men tried that best to keep women in a subordinated position. Its true that not for
biological or natural disadvantages, but only for reverse social condition women were
had to lead a pathetic life. Mens domination women was a system created by men, it
has no connection to law, nature, birth or any other things. Womens oppressed and
dominated condition is probably the worse example of women exploitation in history.
3.

Womens Position in Modern Industrialized age:

Modern age started with the emergence of Renaissance in medieval Europe. Its
measured from 15th century to present time. In modern age the darkness of middle age

is removed by new thinking and invention. Secularism, cultural motivation, development

of knowledge and education with up growing trade and commerce introduced a new
type of social system
In the period of Renaissance womens condition did not get any significance change,
but after the demolition of feudalism women become free and independent labor. They
being independent had to work for their own livelihood. But as most of them were too
poor, so their condition was not better than of middle age. To help their family women
participated in economic activities.
But as patriarchy was still dominating on the society, women were exploited by men in
all the sphere of society. Renaissance made positive change in literature and cultural
sector but did not take any step to change womens venerable condition in society.