she was slave, free, wife, or concubine.

The women did not have any choice in their head

covering, as any women caught in public in a misidentifying garb was dealt harsh punishments,

such as 50 blows with rods or the amputation of her ears. Men were dealt similar harsh

punishments for failing to report a woman dressed incorrectly (70). Status must have been

imperative to this society, where social hierarchy was rigidly addressed and upheld, and had

much to do with a woman’s potential sexuality, as opposed to her talent or contribution.

Similarly, the “Family and Marriage” section of Hammurabi’s Code is concerned mainly with

protecting virginity and punishing infidelity mostly with death by drowning. Interestingly, if a

woman refused her husband, her case was investigated. Depending on their findings, the

woman was allowed to return to her father’s house, or was drowned. No punishment is

mentioned for the man (55). Perhaps the rules were executed fairly, and the authorities were

precise and accurate in their investigations. But in an imperfect world, it seems unlikely

anyone would gamble with such consequences. And so we see male dominance fully sprouted,

and yielding nearly complete control in matters of state and home. Individuals were no longer

judged only by their contribution to society, but oftentimes only by their status.

In conclusion, a slew of cause-and-effect events led to the eventual loss of prestige for

women in society. There may have always been some division of labor, but in matters of

influence and regard, it might easily have been inconsequential for centuries, even millennia.

During the Neolithic Age, that division of labor is thought to have grown into widening gender

roles. In the Urban Age, patriarchy fully took root, exhibiting itself in new camps of thought,

an emphasis on physical differences, social stratification, and law codes. Prestige was no

longer based on an individual evaluation of gifts to society, but on labels. But there is hope in

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that the biases constituting patriarchy had a historical beginning: we can see them wilt away in

the sun of a bright new age.

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Clay, Catherine, Chandrika Paul, and Christine Senecal. "Women in the First Urban

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"Hammurabi's Code." 1800 B.C.E. Worlds of History: A Comparative Reader. 5th ed. Vol. 1.

By Kevin Reilly. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. N. pag. Print.�

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