In ancient times, mother goddesses represented motherhood and fertility. Women often played an important role as gatherers of plant foods. Some priestesses enjoyed greater rights and liberties, and some women became powerful queens. However, patriarchal societies dominated, where males held authority. Myths like those of Eve, Pandora, and witches portrayed women negatively and were used to justify restricting women's freedoms. Marriage also defined women's place in society. It was only in the 20th century that women began winning rights like suffrage. Some pioneering women like Marie Curie, Rosa Parks, and Malala Yousafzai challenged oppression and changed the world. However, women still face issues like honor killings

1. History of Women
Teacher: Luciana Viter

2. Ancient World

3. Neolithic female figure Ancient greek female figure
The figure of Mother Goddess was important

4. Diet of prehistoric human beings: mostly plant
foods and meat only ocasionally. Thus, woman the
gatherer may have been more important than
man the hunter on providing food.

5. Mother Goddess,
sometimes referred to
as Mother Earth or
Mother Nature,
represented
motherhood,
fertility,
creation.

6. Durga (India)
Durga's feminine power contained the combined
energies of all the gods

7. Yemanja
In Yoruba mithology , the mother of all saintsDanu, the mother of Irish gods

8. Isis nursing Horus (Egypt)
Juno (Greece (as Hera) and Rome)
goddess of marriage and
queen of the gods

9. And later, Mary (Virgin Mary)
Mother of Jesus for Catholic Christians

10. In these contexts, priestesses often enjoyed rights and
liberties denied to most women, as their own property
and income, freedom of movement and prestige.
Vestal priestesses (Rome)

11. And there were also some powerful queens

12. But patriarchal communities
and values prevailed

13. Patriarchy
A social system in which the male is the primary
authority figure to social organization. Fathers hold
authority over women and children. Many patriarchal
societies are also patrilineal, meaning that property
and title are inherited by the male lineage.
PATER – FATHER

14. Myths and Archetypes
The relationship
between women
and men in the
West is rooted in
the Genesis story
of Adam and Eve.

15. The story of Eve has provided men with the reason why
they should restrain and restrict the social, sexual,
religious, political, and economic freedom of women.
It has also given the justification to hold women
responsible for all the misfortunes suffered by mankind.

16. Other mythical women’s representations
Pandora, the first woman
created by the gods,
according to the greeks,
opened a box releasing all
the evils of humanity. She
opened it out of simple
curiosity.

17. Magic and Witchcraft
Women were traditionally
the guardians of folk
medicine. It was considered
white magic. Fear of
women’s power of doing
black magic originated the
myth of witches.

18. Although accusations
of witchcraft seem to have
been most commonly made
against older women who
lived on the margins of
society, women who were
too powerful could become
targets as well. Joan of Arc
is one famous example.

19. Marriage
For a long time,
marriage was the
most important
item to define the
place of a woman in
society.

20. Women’s Suffrage
Only on 20th
Century, Women
had finally won
the right to vote.

21. Some women in History
who changed the world
Marie Curie, a pioneer
researcher on radioactivity,
was the first woman to win a
Nobel Prize, the only
woman to win in two fields,
and the only person to win
in multiple sciences. She
was also the first female
professor at Sorbonne.

22. Some women in History
who changed the world
Rosa Parks , the “first
lady of civil rights”,
refused to obey bus
driver order that she give
up her seat in the colored
section to a white
passenger, after the
white section was filled.

23. Some women in History
who changed the world
Mother Teresa devoted
her life to the service of
the poor and
dispossessed. She
became a global icon
for selfless service to
others. She was
awarded the Nobel
Peace prize in 1979.

24. Some women in History
who changed the world
Malala Yousafzai is a
Pakistani school pupil and
education activist who
wrote detailing her life under
Taliban rule and her views
on promoting education for
girls. On 2012, Yousafzai
was shot in the head and
neck while returning home
on a school bus.

25. Women are still oppressed today
Honour-Killings

26. Women are still oppressed today
Forced marriages

27. Women are still oppressed today
Rapes

28. Women are still oppressed today
Clothing Requirements

29. Women are still oppressed today
Restricted access to education

30. Women are still oppressed today
Female Infanticide

31. Women are still oppressed today
Deprivation of Freedom and Citizenship

32. Inequalities