Women in Asia and Africa

Dear Friend,—In pursuing the history of woman in different ages and countries, it will be necessary to exhibit her in all the various situations in which she has been placed.

Dear Friend, as I trace the history of women in different times and countries, I must show all the different situations they have been placed in.

We find her sometimes filling the throne, and exercising the functions of royalty. The name of Semiramis is familiar to every reader of ancient history. She succeeded Ninus in the government of the Assyrian empire; and to render her name immortal, built the city of Babylon. Two millions of men were constantly employed upon it. Certain dykes built by order of this queen, to defend the city from inundations, are spoken of as admirable.

We sometimes find her sitting on the throne and exercising royal powers. Every reader of ancient history knows the name of Semiramis. She succeeded Ninus as ruler of the Assyrian empire. To make her name immortal, she built the city of Babylon. Two million men were constantly employed in building it. The dikes this queen ordered built to protect the city from floods are described as admirable.

Nicotris, wife of Nabonadius, the Evil-Merodach of Scripture, was a woman of great endowments. While her husband indulged in a life of ease and pleasure, she managed the affairs of state with wisdom and prudence.

Nicotris was a woman of great ability. Her husband, Nabonadius, was the Evil-Merodach of Scripture. While he lived a life of ease and pleasure, she managed the affairs of state wisely and carefully.

Other instances might be adduced to prove that there is no natural inferiority in woman. Not that I approve of woman’s holding the reins of government over man. I maintain that they are equal, and that God never invested fallen man with unlimited power over his fellow man; and I rejoice that circumstances have prevented woman from being more deeply involved in the guilt which appears to be inseparable from political affairs. The few instances which I have mentioned prove that intellect is not sexed; and doubtless if woman had not almost universally been depressed and degraded, the page of history would have exhibited as many eminent statesmen and politicians among women as men. We are much in the situation of the slave. Man has asserted and assumed authority over us. He has, by virtue of his power, deprived us of the advantages of improvement which he has lavishly bestowed upon himself, and then, after having done all he can to take from us the means of proving our equality, and our capability of mental cultivation, he throws upon us the burden of proof that God created man and woman equal, and endowed them, without any reference to sex, with intelligence and responsibilities, as rational and accountable beings. Hence in Hindostan, even women of the higher classes are forbidden to read or write; because the Hindoos think it would inevitably spoil them for domestic life, and assuredly bring some great misfortune upon them. May we not trace to the same feeling, the disadvantages under which women labor even in this country, for want of an education, which would call into exercise the powers of her mind, and fortify her soul with those great moral principles by which she would be qualified to fill every department in social, domestic and religious life with dignity?

Other examples could be given to prove that women are not naturally inferior. This does not mean I approve of women governing men. I maintain that they are equal. God never gave fallen man unlimited power over his fellow man. I am glad that circumstances have kept women from being more deeply involved in the guilt that seems inseparable from politics. The few examples I have mentioned prove that intellect has no sex. Women have been held down and degraded almost everywhere. If they had not been, history would doubtless show as many eminent women statesmen and politicians as men. We are much like the slave. Man has claimed and assumed authority over us. Through his power, he has denied us the opportunities for improvement that he has generously given himself. He has done all he can to take away our means of proving our equality and our ability to develop intellectually. Then he places the burden of proof on us. He demands that we prove God created man and woman equal. We must prove that God gave them intelligence and responsibilities as rational, accountable beings, without regard to sex. Thus, in Hindostan, even upper-class women are forbidden to read or write. The Hindoos think that reading and writing would inevitably spoil women for domestic life. They think it would surely bring some great misfortune upon them. Might we trace to the same feeling the disadvantages women face even in this country? They lack an education that would exercise their minds. Such an education would also strengthen their souls with great moral principles. These principles would enable them to fill every role in social, domestic and religious life with dignity.

In Hindostan, the evidence of women is not received in a court of justice.

In Hindostan, courts do not accept evidence from women.

In Burmah, their testimony is not deemed equal to that of a man, and they are not allowed to ascend the steps of a court of justice, but are obliged to give their testimony outside of the building.

In Burmah, their testimony is not considered equal to a man’s. They are not allowed to climb the steps of a court of justice, but must give their testimony outside the building.

In Siberia, women are not allowed to step across the foot-prints of men, or reindeer; they are not allowed to eat with men, or to partake of particular dainties. Among many tribes, they seem to be regarded as impure, unholy beings.

In Siberia, women are not allowed to step over the footprints of men or reindeer. They cannot eat with men or enjoy certain delicacies. Among many tribes, women seem to be regarded as impure, unholy beings.

Here I am reminded of the resemblance between the situation of women in heathen and Mohammedan countries, and our brethren and sisters of color in this Christian land, where they are despised and cast out as though they were unclean. And on precisely the same ground, because they are said to be inferior.

I am reminded here of the similarity between women’s situation in heathen and Mohammedan countries and that of our brothers and sisters of color in this Christian land. Here, they are despised and cast out as if they were unclean. And the reason is exactly the same: they are said to be inferior.

The treatment of women as wives is almost uniformly the same in all heathen countries.

Women are treated almost the same as wives in all pagan countries.

The ancient Lydians are the only exception that I have met with, and the origin of their peculiar customs is so much obscured by fable, that it is difficult to ascertain the truth. Probably they arose from some great benefit conferred on the state by women.

The ancient Lydians are the only exception I have found. But the origins of their unusual customs are so obscured by legend that the truth is hard to determine. The customs probably arose because women had done some great service to the state.

Among the Druses who reside in the mountains of the Anti Libanus, a wife is often divorced on the slightest pretext. If she ask her husband’s permission to go out, and he says,—‘Go,’ without adding ‘but come back again,’ she is divorced.

Among the Druses who live in the Anti Libanus mountains, a wife is often divorced for the slightest reason. If she asks her husband’s permission to go out, and he says, ‘Go,’ without adding ‘but come back again,’ she is divorced.

In Siberia, it is considered a wife’s duty to obey the most capricious and unreasonable demands of her husband, without one word of expostulation or inquiry. If her master be dissatisfied with the most trifling particular in her conduct, he tears the cap or veil from her head, and this constitutes a divorce.

In Siberia, a wife is expected to obey her husband’s most arbitrary and unreasonable demands without questioning or protesting. If her master is dissatisfied with the slightest detail of her behavior, he tears the cap or veil from her head. This act constitutes a divorce.

A Persian woman, under the dominion of the kindest master, is treated much in the same manner as a favorite animal. To vary her personal graces for his pleasure, is the sole end and aim of her existence. As moral or intellectual beings, it would be better for them to be among the dead than the living. The mother instructs her daughter in all the voluptuous coquetry, by which she herself acquired precarious ascendency over her absolute master; but all that is truly estimable in female character is utterly neglected.

A Persian woman, even under the control of the kindest master, is treated much like a favorite animal. Her sole purpose in life is to change her appearance and manners for his pleasure. As moral or intellectual beings, such women would be better off dead than alive. A mother teaches her daughter all the sensual flirtation she herself used to gain uncertain influence over her absolute master. But she utterly neglects all that is truly admirable in a woman’s character.

Hence we find women extravagantly fond of adorning their persons. Regarded as instruments of pleasure, they have been degraded into mere animals, and have found their own gratification principally in the indulgence of personal vanity, because their external charms procured for them, at least a temporary ascendency over those, who held in their hands the reins of government. A few instances must suffice, or I shall exceed the limits I have prescribed to myself in this letter.

As a result, we find that women are excessively fond of adorning themselves. Treated as instruments of pleasure, they have been degraded to mere animals. They have found satisfaction mainly in indulging their vanity. Their outward beauty gave them, at least temporarily, power over those who controlled the government. A few examples must suffice, or I will exceed the limits I have set for this letter.

During the magnificent prosperity of Israel, marriages were conducted with great pomp; and with the progress of luxury and refinement, women became expensive, rather than profitable in a pecuniary point of view. Hence probably arose the custom of wealthy parents giving a handsome dowry with their daughters. On the day of the nuptials, the bride was conducted by her female relations to the bath, where she was anointed with the choicest perfumes, her hair perfumed and braided, her eyebrows deepened with black powder, and the tips of her fingers tinged with rose color. She was then arrayed in a marriage robe of brilliant color; the girdle and bracelets were more or less costly.

During Israel’s great prosperity, marriages were celebrated with great pomp. As luxury and refinement increased, women became financially costly rather than profitable. This probably led to the custom of wealthy parents giving their daughters a generous dowry. On the wedding day, the bride’s female relatives took her to the bath. There, she was anointed with the finest perfumes, and her hair was perfumed and braided. Her eyebrows were darkened with black powder, and her fingertips were tinted rose. She was then dressed in a brilliantly colored wedding robe. Her belt and bracelets varied in cost.

Notwithstanding the Chinese women have no opportunity to rival each other in the conquest of hearts, they are nevertheless very fond of ornaments. Bunches of silver or gilt flowers are always interspersed among their ringlets, and sometimes they wear the Chinese phœnix made of silver gilt. It moves with the slightest motion of the wearer, and the spreading tail forms a glittering aigrette on the middle of the head, and the wings wave over the front. Yet a Chinese ballad says,—The pearls and precious stones, the silk and gold with which a coquette so studiously bedecks herself, are a transparent varnish which makes all her defects the more apparent.

Although Chinese women have no opportunity to compete for hearts, they are still very fond of ornaments. They always wear clusters of silver or gold-plated flowers among their curls. Sometimes they wear a Chinese phoenix made of gold-plated silver. The phoenix moves with the slightest movement of the wearer. Its spreading tail forms a glittering plume in the middle of the head, and its wings wave over the front. Yet a Chinese ballad says: The pearls and precious stones, silk and gold that a flirt so carefully adorns herself with are a transparent coating that makes all her flaws more apparent.

The Moorish women have generally a great passion for ornament. They decorate their persons with heavy gold ear-rings, necklaces of amber, coral and gold; gold bracelets; gold chains and silver bells for the ankles; rings on the fingers, &c. &c. The poorer class wear glass beads around the head, and curl the hair in large ringlets. Men are proud of having their wives handsomely dressed.

Moorish women generally love to adorn themselves. They wear heavy gold earrings, necklaces of amber, coral and gold, and gold bracelets. They also wear gold chains and silver bells around their ankles, rings on their fingers, and other ornaments. Poorer women wear glass beads around their heads and curl their hair in large ringlets. Men are proud to have their wives dressed handsomely.

The Moors are not peculiar in this fancy. Christian men still admire women who adorn their persons to gratify the lust of the eye and the pride of life. Women, says a Brahminical expositor, are characterized by an inordinate love of jewels, fine clothes, &c. &c. I cannot deny this charge, but it is only one among many instances, wherein men have reproached us with those very faults and vices which their own treatment has engendered. Is it any matter of surprise that women, when unnaturally deprived of the means of cultivating their minds, of objects which would elevate and refine their passions and affections, should seek gratification in the toys and the trifles which now too generally engage their attention?

The Moors are not alone in this fancy. Christian men still admire women who dress themselves up to satisfy the lust of the eye and the pride of life. A Brahminical commentator says that women have an excessive love of jewels, fine clothes, and so on. I cannot deny this charge. But it is only one of many cases in which men have blamed us for the very faults and vices their own treatment has caused. Women have been unnaturally denied the means to develop their minds. They have also been denied pursuits that would elevate and refine their passions and affections. Is it surprising, then, that they seek pleasure in the toys and trifles that now occupy their attention all too often?

I cannot close this, without acknowledging the assistance and information I have derived, and shall continue to derive on this part of my subject, from a valuable work entitled ‘Condition of Women, by Lydia M. Child.’ It is worth the perusal of every one who is interested in the subject.

I cannot close without acknowledging the help and information I have gained from a valuable book, ‘Condition of Women, by Lydia M. Child.’ I will continue to draw on it for this part of my subject. It is worth reading for everyone interested in the subject.