Women would be auctioned off, in some cases. Before a man could marry another man's daughter, he would often have to agree to an exchange of goods. Three chickens, a cow, gold, or other items would be traded for the daughter's hand in marriage. Women were seen as property, a commodity. These new wives would often have children very soon; if the child was a boy, he would be raised to help in whatever business the husband was in, if the child was a girl, she would later be traded for something of value, as her mother was.
Seems vile, right? As if these women weren't people at all, but just another form of currency.
Obviously, the situation of marriage has changed over the years. but in some cases, women are still viewed as property or "baby-makers" who cook and clean. So why do I see the history of marriage to be an opposite of feminism?
Feminism (noun) - the belief of social, economic, and political equality of the sexes.
If women weren't viewed as people, they clearly were not viewed as equal to men. This small idea alone is why it blows my mind that all people, but especially women, do not identify as feminists. Even pop singer, Katy Perry doesn't call herself a feminist:
"I am not a feminist, but I do believe in the strength of women."Now why is this a problem? To not be a feminist (or a believer of sexual equality) is to say that you could very possibly believe: that it is okay for a man to own a woman through marriage, that it is okay for a man to beat a woman because she is his property, that it is okay for women to be raped, that it is okay for women to only be valued to bare children or prostitute herself for the sexual pleasure of men, that it is okay to force a woman to carry and give birth to a child against her choice, that it is okay for women do be denied specialized healthcare (gynecological exams, mammograms, psychological treatment, etc.,) that is it okay for women to be denied higher education and a subsequent career, that it is okay for women to be denied the right to vote, own property, and have her own bank account, that it is okay for women to believe that this is all okay.
...see the problem?
Luckily, there are male feminists. *GASP* Somewhere along the line, a man stood up and said, "Ho-ly shit! This just isn't right. My wife is person, with a mind and a life of her own!" This post began as a look into the lack of feminism in marriage throughout history, but it has turned into a look into a world without feminism.
Marriage is founded on mutual love, but these unions are nothing without mutual respect, too. Feminism is applicable to all aspects of daily life, which should certainly make each and every human being an advocate for feminism and equality.
