What was the perceived role of women?
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"'Oh, of course,' Bener said with a guileless mile and wide-open eyes. 'Noting is wrong. Father moves about the house like an abandoned soul in the desert. You alternately glare at him and plead with him for hours. Abu appears mysteriously without Father's knowledge or orders. And my powerful sire, the Eyes of Pharaoh, one of those few in all the world who have the honor to be called Friend of the King, my father has suddenly decided to leave court in the middle of a perilous diplomatic skirmish with the Hittite Emissary. In order to visit his old nurse.' 'Yes,' Kysen snapped. 'Now find Isis and go to the chariot. I'll be there in a moment. And stop interfering. These affairs are not in a woman's domain." (Eater of Souls, page 47)
"'Women manage households and bear children,' Kysen said. 'They do not concern themselves with the tasks of men.' 'Kysen, you're a fool. Do you really think that the wives who bear sons to their husbands, the mothers who nurse all male children, be they kings or water carriers, do you think these women have no influence upon the actions of those husbands and sons?' (Eater of Souls, page 47 - 48)
At this time in Egypt, women were supposed to manage the household, take care of the children, help and maintain the family, and perform related jobs. They were regarded as fragile, physically weak, and unable to do laborious work, however were still an important part of society in other aspects. In society there were specific jobs and actions women were supposed to do, and it was seen as unfit for a women to interfere in jobs meant for men such as taking part in military decisions. Despite women being seen as unfit to be in dangerous situations, they achieved the same economic and legal rights as men, and they could do many of the same tings as men include own their own land and property. Marriage and children were also an important part of society, and women gained respect for playing an important role in this part of life, however, women still did not take part in many political and military jobs.
Sources:
-Eater of Souls written by Lynda S. Robinson
-https://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/womneg.htm
-Yukiko Chevray
