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Roles of Women: Prehistory to 1500CE

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Can you help me develop a thesis statement, tracing the context of the question across prehistoric times to c. 1500 CE, covering at least three separate eras as they are viewed in at least three world culture areas? (World culture areas include Europe, the Near (also known as Middle) East, India, Africa and East Asia.) I have to consider the following topic in how women's lives, roles, and statuses have varied and changed over various early world history eras and culture areas (covering at least four different periods/areas) in developing this thesis.

Also, alongside the thesis, can you help me develop a structure for developing a body supporting this thesis statement?

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Solution Summary

The solution provides a comprehensive picture of the role of women in select societies from North America, Europe, Egypt and the Far east from prehistory to 1500 CE. Resources are listed for further exploration of the topic. Advise on how to put together an extensive paper on the matter is also provided together with a suggested paper outline.

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Dear Student,
Hi and thank you for using Brainmass.

It appears to me that you appear to have a tall task ahead. As you explained, the thesis statement shall be the focus of your response. First, before going through key information that you will need, I suggest focusing on 4 cultures/tribes. For each point of discussion, it would be best to exemplify it with a tribe/culture in the manner by which they practised it. Additionally, each tribe would be representative of a time period. Since this is history, it would be best to exemplify a chronological social picture to show what was going on at each era to track development.

Here is a useful suggestion for an outline-

1. Cover Page
2. Abstract
3. Table of Contents
4. Introductory section, which includes the thesis statement. 2 paragraphs, 150-250 words per paragraph
5. The literature you have reviewed - what did you use to get the information and ideas for your study, why? 200 words.
6. Body - this is where you present data useful in exemplifying your thesis statement -
a. Prehistory - using a tribe/culture, discuss the roles of women - focus on the a South East Asian island culture
b. Women in the Clovis Culture
c. Women in Ancient Egypt
d. Women through the modern age (exemplifying their leadership)
7. Each will be discussed at 250 words, which should yield around 1000 words.
8. Your analysis of the information from #6 - 300 words
9. Present your conclusion with regards to your thesis statement, and what your recommendations with regards to development (social) as well as the study of women's history (academic) are - 200 words.
10. Bibliography - obviously, you will have to use a formatting rule which is typically APA

The above information should help you with your task. Good luck.

Sincerely,
AE 105878/Xenia Jones
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The Lives, Status and Roles of Women in History

We live in a patriarchal society. It is certainly a vast improvement from the patriarchy that ruled America during the time of the Founding Fathers but, nevertheless, ours is a society wherein men are the dominant figures politically, economically, and socially. They, arguably, rule the way we live and run our lives. Businesses and governments are lead by men, leading and dominating forums outside of the home. Why is this the case? Perhaps, if we look at the nature of women and men and the roles they have taken since the beginning of time, we can somewhat explain the genderization of roles in society.

In prehistory, men protected the family, hunted for game, fought with each other for territory and for the preservation of their clans. As warriors, protectors, and providers, they risked their lives to feed their families. Yet this doesn't mean that the role of women was any less. They held an equally important role - their role was the reproductive ability as they gave new life to the clan, providing new hope for the continuation of the family in every child brought alive into the world. However, because of this, they were treated with great protective envy - the most beautiful women, in some prehistoric societies, like that of the Suludnon of Panay island in the South China sea (present-day Philippines), were literally hidden, as prisoner-living deities in a 'bukot', a kind of house that could only be entered by female slaves and the most virile of warriors. These women were called 'Binukot' - 'hidden or kept' women of the tribe, preserved from tarnish and from labor, whose only role was to be beautiful, to inspire the warriors, to sing, and to encourage passion because of their looks. By designing their status in such a way that made them precious, they became the centrepiece of Suludnon society and tribes would come from the islands to seek them, transcending their role as chanteuse and muses - they became great ...

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  • MPhil/PhD (IP), Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • MA, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • Certificate, Geva Ulpan (via Universita Tel Aviv)
  • BA, University of the Philippines
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