When did women stop being men's property and whose smart idea was that?

Question

When did women stop being men's property and whose smart idea was that?

Answer 1

When they got fed up with smart asses like you.

Answer 2

No-one is any ones else's property. Even if the Victorians thought so.

Answer 3

The laws regarding the legal status of women have varied greatly over the years.  In some periods of history women have had more rights than others.  Married women's property rights, fo rinstance, became more restricted in the late medieval period than they had been earlier, and the so-called 'Renaissance' was a period when women's rights became more restricted.

In medieval times, a lot of women were in business, mostlyw orking in their husband's businesses, but some married women were in business on their own account, and were known as 'femmes saules' which meant they were responsible for their own financial affairs, and their money was their own. They were also liable for their own debts.

Although it is true that only a minority of women could read and write in 1500, the same is true of men, a lot of whom would not have been able to read and write at that time.  The 16th century was a period that was notable for a large number of highly educated women, but there were also notable educated women in medieval times.

Women's rights and opportunties  for education and earning a living became more restricted during the 18th century, while at the same time the notion of 'seperate spheres' gained in popularity.  This laid increased emphasis on the woman's place bein gin the home, the seperation of home and workplace that occured as a result of the Industrial Revolution meant that people mostly worked away from home, and married women were expected to devote themselves to home and family.  They also acquired a higher moral status, whereas in previous centuries, women had been seen as morally weaker than men, the early 19th century was a time when women were considered to be purer and more spiritual than men.  They still, however, had very restricted property rights.

A married woman's property, including anything she earned or inherited, was considered to belong to her husband, unless there had been a marriage settlement (there often wa sin the case of wealthy women who married).  A husband was also considered to be responsible for his wife's debts, since she owned no property, she couldn't get into debt on her own account.  Since a wife was considered to be under her husband's authority, he would most likely be blamed for any crime committed by his wife, since she was assumed to have acted under his direction.

In England, it was Caroline Norton who campaigned for changes to the laws on divorce and property when she was deprived of custody of her children after her adulterous husband divorced her.  Various acts were passed during the course of the 19th century in England giving women the right to sue for divorce, and to retain custody of their children, and to ownership of their own property.

Answer 4

They are still men's property if handled correctly. However, we are also women's property so there is a dichotomy  

Answer 5

shortly after getting married, an ex g/f was told by her new husband , don't forget i own you now. she left him that night, that smart comment cost him dearly.

Answer 6

Genesis Chapter 1.  God's idea.

Answer 7

They stopped being men's property the day you were born.  It was your mothers idea.

Answer 8

You can have a woman in your life who will be totally your property, however, she will also be fully inflatable and probably live under your bed in a cardboard box so that your mother won't find her when hoovering!

This is not a baseless attack.  There are very clear legislative dates which meant women were given varying degrees of autonomy, usually linked to owning property and divorce laws..in the late 19th century, and as late as the 1960's when divorce laws in the UK were reformed.  However, legislation is not the whole answer is it? If society's male dominated culture still pushes antiquated attitudes about women's roles and their subordination to men, you can pass as many laws as you want, hearts and minds often take time to follow. Misogyny is endemic and as old as time itself...lots of love to you and your girlfriend x

Answer 9

When you are laying in bed alone every night remember this.

No woman wants to date a man who thinks she is his property.

Remember that, Darren G. Maybe you'll get a date one day.

Answer 10

I was never a mans property and I will never be a mans property.

Also you are technically your moms property.

Answer 11

Women In 1180:

a lawyer states that 'every married woman is a sort of infant'. Married women have few rights. Church law permits men to beat their wives for laziness or disobedience, although not harshly. When a woman marries, her goods automatically become her husband's property for as long as he lives. Divorce for women is almost impossible, but men can throw their wives out of the house with impunity for being unfaithful. Words such as 'effeminate', 'womanish' and 'feminine' are used against men as terms of abuse. Edward II and his courtiers are attacked for their effeminacy.

Marriage for aristocratic women is frequently a business deal. Love between the partners is not seen as important: marriage are made to forge territorial alliances or enrich a family's fortunes.

Before Magna Carta puts a stop to it, the king has the right to sell off widowed noble women to the highest bidder. There are even cases of kidnappings so that the king can collect his fee. Once this practice is ended, rich widows enjoy the rare privilege of managing their estates and spending their money as they see fit. This is as equal to men as women ever get.

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsit...

Tudor Britain:

In 1500, few girls are taught to read and write, but 100 years later, the literacy rate for women is as high as at any time until the 19th century. And, despite women's officially inferior status, Tudor popular ballads are full of witty wenches outwitting stupid swains or strong wives beating weak husbands with their ladles.

And then there is Bess of Hardwick. A Derbyshire squire's daughter, she triumphantly conquers the Tudor man's world by marrying (and outliving) four successively wealthier husbands, ending up as countess of Shrewsbury. ...

In some communities, however, uppity women are punished in a ritual known as the Skimmington ride, in which neighbours mock wives who dominate their husbands and men are ridiculed as cuckolds.

By the late 16th century, the insistence of conduct books that women should be silent, chaste and modest suggests that, in reality, women are more independent. Pamphlet wars about the 'nature of women' show that their status is hotly debated.

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsit...

Answer 12

i am Her property......just check out my profile.

Answer 13

feminists state that marriage makes a woman the property of the man.... i'm a feminist.  

now iron my bloody shirt.

Answer 14

You really hate your mother.  So much anger from you I think you have serious issues with your self worth it's seems clear you need to stand on the back of someone or some group to feel better about yourself.

Answer 15

Hah. I will assume you are kidding, otherwise I would have to say...

All the SMART ideas werent yours, Bucko! ;P