Throughout Western history, vast gender differences have been evident in both monotheistic and polytheistic cultures. Indeed, patriarchal hierarchies in both social systems have emphasized the superiority of the male sex; however, more emphasis is placed on the uselessness of women in a monotheistic society. The fact that women in polytheistic worlds such as those found in the Odyssey and Medea are able to command more power than women in monotheistic civilizations such as those found in the Holy Bible and Beowulf suggests that the female image enjoyed greater respect and was more appreciated. in a polytheistic society. In many ways, this change in mentality can be attributed to the religious nature of the culture of the time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The emphasis placed on female inferiority in a monotheistic society can also be seen in a henotheistic culture. Since henotheism is often seen as a precursor to monotheism, it is useful to examine the conditions experienced by women in this type of society. "Genesis" describes a world based on patriarchy: it is a civilization founded on the idea that the primary deity is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Women are rarely mentioned as having power over men's decisions, as they only hear the word of YHWH and YHWH only speaks to men. For example, Lot presents his daughters to the men of Sodom as mere possessions: his daughters have no verbal or physical power. Another example is found in the account of Shechem's abduction of Dinah. It is unknown whether Dinah is distressed by this event or wants to take action against the perpetrator; however, it is clear that the retaliation against the city of Hamor is the work of Dinah's brothers, who never mention that the motive is actual rape. Dinah and her brothers are the sons of Jacob and therefore the chosen people. It seems that the presence of one God (YHWH) and His focus on the progress of the patriarchs leaves women out of the picture. The inferiority of women is only further emphasized in "Exodus", which portrays an entirely monotheistic society. Although no actions involving women are described, it is evident from the sermon on Mount Sinai that YHWH views women not only as property, but, more importantly, as incapable of exercising power. Married women are fed and clothed by their husbands (Exodus 21:10), and women who act as "sorceresses" are condemned to die (Exodus 22:18). By worshiping a single God (who is clearly male), the female gender is relegated to the class of loyal servants of their male counterparts. Even in later writings, one of the "Church Fathers" (Tertullian) states that women are the "devil's door" and promotes the persecution of them under Christianity. Following the foundations of monotheistic Christianity, Beowulf's warrior-led society still portrays women who have no substantial actions in the story and only speak passionately when fed jokes. In fact, it seems that Welthow is simply another Hrothgar, as he can only reiterate every sentiment that Hrothgar just spoke about. Again, the view of women as mere objects of hospitality may be derived from the traditional Christian view: God clearly praises masculine values ​​in combat, war, and strength. The only female character in Beowulf who actually has authority and control is Grendel's mother. Predictably, she is despised for these characteristics, even though they would have been deemed acceptable if she had been a man. Furthermore, Grendel's mother (as well as all other women) "could not come with the strength of a man,fought with the strength and courage with which men fight, smashing their shining swords, their bloodied, hammer-forged blades on boar-headed helmets, striking and stabbing with the sharpest point." It is clear that society places women in an inferior position, believing they are not suited to the same tasks as men. Success in battle is attributed to God, as seen when Hrothgar thanks God for allowing Beowulf's victory. God expects it to be men. not women, to display these highly valued and warrior-like attributes. In contrast to monotheistic societies, cultures that believe in multiple gods offer a more powerful and respected image of women were still largely seen as ill-intentioned creatures, their increased level of influence required recognition. For example, the ancient Greek culture described by Homer deviates from that of a rigid patriarchal society. While importance on the battlefield was still highly valued, it was recognized that women had an important role in shaping everyday life. One explanation for the change in gender treatment is that the culture developed a reliance on multiple aspects of life being controlled. by both male and female deities. These gods are clearly accorded gender-specific responsibilities, such as Ares, the god of war, and Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Interestingly, Athena also represents war, although not to the extent that Ares does. With this overlap of duties, it is no wonder that both gods were revered, which in turn required a reevaluation of current gender classifications. In polytheistic societies, all gods are to be worshiped, regardless of their gender. It was unwise to belittle women, as any stranger could be a goddess in disguise. Furthermore, although women were still seen as having evil intentions, it is evident that they had much more power and influence over others than ever before. From the creation of that "damned race of women" in Hesoid's Theogony to the evil nature of Medea, women have always used their power for vile purposes. However, the Odyssey is full of tales of women gifted with extraordinary powers and respected for their judgments. Penelope shares many characteristics with Odysseus - intelligence, quick thinking and reasoning, to name a few - yet society does not view her qualities with the level of contempt found in "Genesis" or Beowulf. Penelope, in fact, is greatly appreciated by both her family and Athena. Helen, while considered highly deceptive, is obviously gifted with the ability to drug those who cross her and uses this ability to her advantage. The question of whether the female spirit of independence and willingness to act is a desirable trait is not addressed, but it is certainly permissible and a powerful force in these Greek stories. It's not just mortal women who display greater influence in a polytheistic society. As the most powerful goddess in the Odyssey, Athena, she has the power not only to change the outcome of battles, but to influence Zeus' decisions. In the interest of saving Odysseus, Athena convinces Zeus to bring him home. Other goddesses in history, such as Circe and Calypso, are also described as having great powers. With female goddesses present in the culture, it was no longer acceptable to view women simply as male property, especially since goddesses rivaled gods in terms of power and authority. In Medea, there are far fewer mentions of the gods than are found in the Odyssey. Medea, however, is a sorceress, and it is obvious that she is not the most obedient and loyal woman.