The Roles of Women in East Asia and Western Europe from 1750 to 1914

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The Roles of Women in East Asia and Western Europe from 1750 to 1914 Women in East Asia and Western Europe were treated in very different ways. East Asia prescribed a patriarchal social authority life while Western Europe prescribed a more liberated way of life for women. Women in East Asia and Western Europe had various similarities but they were varied and far between. Cultures and religious beliefs were what influenced social authority in these countries. In East Asia, women were subjected to a strong patriarchal authority. Through the use of foot binding (implemented when they were young) freedom was especially limited. Such as in present day Saudi Arabia women barely had any rights and were thought of as owned and a service to their husbands. Women in present day Saudi Arabia can’t go anywhere without a man and must wear a niqab or a burka to hide them from the affection of other men. Unlike Saudi Arabia today, East Asian women bind their feet to make them appeal more attractive to men. In Western Europe women had more freedom; women were allowed to hold more high ranking positions. They were also able to coerce men into political aqcuistions (some women were heavily involved in politics even though they couldn’t hold office). Anne Boeyln, King Henry VIII second wife was one of the few who actually cared about politics;she was eventually beheaded but her legacy lives on because she was able to make Henry divorce Catherine of Aragon. Western European women were more civilized and were able to voice their thoughts, even though they weren’t able to hold office they were extremely valued in advice on political matters but not matters of war. Western Europe women had tremendously more freedom than East Asian women, who were subjected to harsh punishment and under constant watch. Western European women influenced politics and “held the court”. East Asian women
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