CHAPTER 9/11/12

THE WORLD OF PASTORAL SOCIETIES AND WOMEN

            After reading religion for a while I finally found something interesting. The Pastoral Societies, which was very interesting to read regarding Pastoral Society and women.

I found it interesting that pastoral people were less productive and I could say a little layback. While other societies around them were more advance in living a luxury life; Pastoral people were in many way very different. They lived in huts rather than in villages, town, and cities such as the agrarian civilization. Pastoral economy was very poor and agricultural was less productive due to the dry weather.  Although pastoral people economy was poor they found other alternative and began to raise livestock.  Livestock enabled the construction of pastoral society that helped them herd a better economy. Women mainly performed most of the work. Who had to do all the labor?  The women of course; after reading more about pastoral women, not only were they responsible in the productive labor of livestock, they were responsible in providing the nourishment by producing cheese, blood, wool, hides, and meat in order to provide to the growing population. Yes, men had their part too, but women had a huge responsibility.

 Although they had domestic responsibility for food and taking care of their children Pastoral women had higher status, and less restriction.  My kind of world!  Women also were able to own or control their livestock. Remarriage of widows carried no negative connotation as it did in China.  But get this! Mongol women frequently served as political advisers and served in the military.  Wow! You can either love this place for the freedom or hate it for the heat. Hmmm!  Freedom!

Although women were responsible in the domestic aspect they also made clothing, shoes, leggings by using animal skins. Pretty much everything was made of leather.  Women drove carts and repair them how bad can this be? Yeah! Women liberty! Where did it go? 

Then I read the story of “Khutulun, A Mongol Wrestler Princes” (pg. 530) Interesting! To learn how a royal princess named Khutulun who excelled in riding, archery, and wrestling and generally outperform her own brother. She sure earned her respect, but what gets more interesting to learn was that she was a very young women who joined her father on the battlefield and was awarded a medallion of office, which is normally reserved for men.  Right on!  As she became of age to marry, trouble began and she would not marry just any man. She would only marry someone who would defeat her in wrestling, does this not remind you of one of Walt Disney movie, and I believe it was called Mulan? The only differences in this movie the daughter take the place of the father as a warrior.  Although many suitors tried to defeat Khutulun, and all of them failed, eventually she marries her father’s follower. This was her decision, which demonstrates that women were free to make choices.