Alternate Women's History

I'm attempting to gather scenarios for divergent histories that would have accelerated or expanded women's rights and roles in society, with a focus on global improvement. I have to admit that I don't know much about women's history specifically and am asking for input or direction to sources.
What would be the historic significance if Amelia Earhart had not disappeared?
Are there any specific instances where a momentous decision was made after conferring with a ruler's wife?
Any comments or suggestions are welcome.
 
Rathshaven said:
I'm attempting to gather scenarios for divergent histories that would have accelerated or expanded women's rights and roles in society, with a focus on global improvement. I have to admit that I don't know much about women's history specifically and am asking for input or direction to sources.
What would be the historic significance if Amelia Earhart had not disappeared?
Are there any specific instances where a momentous decision was made after conferring with a ruler's wife?
Any comments or suggestions are welcome.
Theodora, wife of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, was very influential. Kept him from fleeing the capital like a pansey when a sports riot broke out (oh, how I can relate to the Byzantine people...).
 
Spartan women were very influential. Gorgo comes to mind....

To accelerate women's emancipation you need industrial revolution (laabour intensive) and war that is long and expensive (in terms of hardware). With long war men go to front and women need to fill the factory lines to keep weapons rolling. Once they realsie they can do men's jobs calls for emancipation start.
 
Develop cheap, safe, reliable, widespread, CONVENIENT birth control earlier. Once women can control their bodies more effectively, the rise of a large body of women with time and energy to devote outside the family (and yes, I know that there were many such women before birth control became universally available, but not a critical mass, if you will...) makes greater demands for true equality far more likely...
 
Maybe not the wife

Matilda was Noble woman in and around 1200 (I believe) who was instrumental in establishment of the modern papacy. If she hadn't been around the world would be very different.
 
Scott Rosenthal said:
Develop cheap, safe, reliable, widespread, CONVENIENT birth control earlier. Once women can control their bodies more effectively, the rise of a large body of women with time and energy to devote outside the family (and yes, I know that there were many such women before birth control became universally available, but not a critical mass, if you will...) makes greater demands for true equality far more likely...
Hmmm, birth control without modern medical advances. Can we be sure societies with this would have birth rates above replacement levels?
 
aktarian said:
To accelerate women's emancipation you need industrial revolution (laabour intensive) and war that is long and expensive (in terms of hardware). With long war men go to front and women need to fill the factory lines to keep weapons rolling. Once they realsie they can do men's jobs calls for emancipation start.

Your second point is wrong. Women received the right to vote in New Zealand 1893, Finland in 1906, Norway in 1910 and in Sweden in 1919. No connection to long and expensive wars.
 
Sam: Many states in the US had women voting in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and the trend began in the West, where there were few of the effects cited by aktarian.... Perhaps one might make the case for women gaining greater equality in harsh environments? (just thinking...)

DominusNovus: I suspect that without modern medicine and with modern (or pseudo-modern) birth control, populations would indeed suffer some decline, perhaps drastic ones. This in and of itself might create some interesting secondary PODs (natalist policies, for instance?, perhaps forced immigration?...you get the idea)...
 
A herb which happened to have a contraceptive effect is certainly possible.

BTW is a herb, mineral or combination of herbs which would tend to ensure that either girls or boys are more likley to be conceved possible
 
A herb which happened to have a contraceptive effect is certainly possible.

BTW is a herb, mineral or combination of herbs which would tend to ensure that either girls or boys are more likley to be conceved possible
 
Scott Rosenthal said:
Develop cheap, safe, reliable, widespread, CONVENIENT birth control earlier. Once women can control their bodies more effectively, the rise of a large body of women with time and energy to devote outside the family (and yes, I know that there were many such women before birth control became universally available, but not a critical mass, if you will...) makes greater demands for true equality far more likely...

But would there be initiative to develop them if women have no voice? I doubt male dominated society would give up it's domination without pressure.

Sam said:
Your second point is wrong. Women received the right to vote in New Zealand 1893, Finland in 1906, Norway in 1910 and in Sweden in 1919. No connection to long and expensive wars.


Granted, some countries had it before. But when did most industrialised nations give it?
 
Derek Jackson said:
A herb which happened to have a contraceptive effect is certainly possible.

There was an extremely interesting in a magazine I can't remember which one, about three or four years ago about contraceptive herbs in antiquity. The article was very open to the idea that they had at least partial effectiveness. There was one herb cultivated in Libya that was so much in demand that it was ultimately harvested into extinction and we no longer have it. The herb that the ancients thought to be second best is still around and the article claimed that some experimenters have it shown this herb is indeed a partially effective contraceptive.
 
Aktarian:

Many men might consider a useful contraceptive a very good thing indeed, as it would permit one to 'play without paying'. This was, after all, one of the biggest changes that the introduction of contraceptives into our society created...

As for a male-dominated society not finding it in its interest...nonsense. Scientific discoveries aren't so easily surpressed, and only an empty-headed feminist (OK, redundant...) would believe such a silly conspiracy theory...
 
Suffurage

1789- several women tried voting on the grounds that the US consitution simply said {Citizen} By the early 1800's all the states had passed laws prohititing Women voting. If Some of these failed, or were sucessfully challanged in Court.
 
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