A Woman’s Role in Changing Society
Over the centuries, the definition of a woman has changed. During the pagan times, women were seen as the embodiment of all life. They worshiped mother earth and its gifts, the goddess is seen as a almighty and powerful divine being. In tarot cards, the Empress is the first card on the deck, followed by the Emperor. Humans have known for ages that women are indeed more powerful then men, and seek to oppress them out of fear of being subjected to their control. During the Burning Times, witches that burnt at the stake were predominantly female, they were looked at in suspicion, for their cunningness and cruelty.
During the Victorian Era, women were seen as a trophy wife. The accepted reasoning was that the career for women was marriage. 
To get ready for courtship and marriage a girl was groomed like a racehorse. In addition to being able to sing, play an instrument and speak a little French or Italian, the qualities a young Victorian gentlewoman needed, were to be innocent, virtuous, biddable, dutiful and be ignorant of intellectual opinion. (A Woman’s Place)
After the industrial revolution things started to change, women started to work and contribute to the economy. There was a rise of awareness for the need of gender equality, women were now seen in a different light. Women were portrayed in musculine poses and taking over men jobs. There was a greater respect for women as they started to juggle between household chores and supporting the family.
In the technological age, women are seen as sex symbols. There is a rise of magazines portraying women in lewd suggestive poses. They are seen as outlets of suppressed physical desire. The availability of pornographic material on the internet has lead to the degrading of a woman’s physical state to that of a sex toy. In Japan, young school girls would go on compensated dating with older men in exchange for branded goods. There is a availability of social escorts and prostitutes just a phone call away. Women has realized the value of their bodies and are abusing it for monetary gains, including rising up the social ladder or corporate ladder.
On the other end of the spectrum is a group of strong women, feared by all levels of society. They call themselves the femininist. They believe that women are better, if not equal to men. They are viewed as power hungry man-eating monsters. They are starting to take over leadership positions in the government and corporations. They are threathening the control and dominance of men - and they are afraid to be dragged by their ties and be under the sharp heels of these power women.
This article is written by Averal Lim, who explores the changing roles of a Woman in the society as time progresses. Permission needed for republication.
