Discrimination between women in the Societies of the ancient Near East (3000- 539 B C), Iraq and Egypt as an example

Abstract

The contents of this research entitled “Discrimination between Women in the Societies of the Ancient Near East (539-3000 BC) Iraq and Egypt as a Model” fell into two axes. The first was: discrimination between married women, and the second dealt with discrimination between respected and disrespected women. Each axis was divided into two points. The first point was about discrimination in ancient Iraq and the second was about discrimination in ancient Egypt.

Immoral behavior by a wife degrades her status, relegating her to a secondary position, like a servant in her husband's house. Similarly, a woman's virginity and sexual conduct were among the most prominent markers distinguishing between virtuous and wicked women. The Egyptians applied the laws of second wives or concubines to foreign wives, even if she was the first or only wife; she did not have the same rights as an Egyptian wife. This was especially true because Egyptians discriminated between Egyptian and foreign women, often preferring female relatives. During the Assyrian era, the veil was a prominent marker of distinction among women; it was considered a virtue for free or married women and those of high status, while other women were denied it. This distinction, however, was not held by the Egyptians.