On The Social and Political Status of Women from Palaeolithic Ages To 16th Century Europe

Abstract

Feminism aims to eliminate the inequalities and injustices that women are exposed to in all areas of society. These inequalities are the result of the progress of societies in history. From prehistoric times to modern times, both women and men have had certain duties in society. These duties between the sexes did not cause a classification in the early Palaeolithic ages. Because the main duty of both men and women is to look after the interests of the society in which they live. In these periods, when the commands of nature were taken as a basis, the first deteriorations between societies began in the neolithic ages. With industrialization, sedentary life began and the balances between societies and between sexes altered. Especially with the learning that the male has a say in reproduction, these deteriorations between the sexes developed in favour of the male over time. Although the change in the balances between the sexes works differently in every society in Europe, the result has been in favour of men. As the ages progressed, women were exposed to inequality and injustice in many social, political, public, legal, religious, etc. issues. Towards the Renaissance, families became small kingdoms and men became kings in the house. These male-dominated discriminations, which increased from the beginning to the end of the Renaissance, were the first periods when the concept of ‘feminism’ was mentioned. This study aims to discuss the social, political, religious and legal positions of women between Palaeolithic and 16th century Europe in general.