Most ancient cultures have made it clear that a women's place is in the home, caring for her family and loving her husband. Although there are a few exceptions, such as the warrior city of Sparta, the Amazon tribes, and some parts of Ancient Egypt, the world was almost completely uniform in therms of a woman's place in society.

What if there is a deep reason for this?

Science suggests that there is. It has been documented that educating women and giving them equal rights to men results in them having smaller families, and when they do choose to have families they start them latter in life. This is obvious, because an educated woman typically get careers and spend more time working than raising their families.

We can imagine, that any ancient culture before the invention of many of the modern conveniences and medicines that we often take for granted was in a constant struggle with death. It was necessary for a culture to produce stable families and give children the greatest chance of survival possible, including if necessary, war to fend off attackers. Refusal to treat women the same as men may have become an unspoken necessity for the survival of that society.

In modern times, the global population is reaching a precipice over which it would be best we do not cross. Overpopulation is a rising concern as global resources are stretched and new land must be converted to human use. Although the exact number is unknown, many scholars estimate that the carrying capacity, or maximum population, of the earth is about 10 billion people. Most developed nations have slowed or even negative population growth, and this is comes with it's own complications (mostly economic ) but it is preferable to global famine and poverty.

I propose, that it is well past time for us as a species and a people to let go of the traditions of the past world and accept a deeper understanding of ourselves and society. Both for our own good and the good of our children, grandchildren, and all future generations.