The Power of Women

Many world builders, in trying to show a more “authentic” culture in their fantasy worlds place women as being less important and wielding less power.  There might be some exceptions, typically warrior women, but by and large women at most strata of life will not wield power.

We consider this to be short-sighted and truly silly.  Even assuming that the culture insists that the rule of the land can only be passed through the male heirs, women have always held a place in society, and frequently one of power.

No, we have not just come from our women’s study course.  We are simply trusting to history.  Alexander the Great’s mother Olympias ruled in his name while he was out on campaign.  Gorgo, wife of Leonidas of Sparta, was famed for her intelligence, though she may not have been as political as certain movies have suggested.  Still, several accounts suggest she advised kings.  You might see where we’re going with this.  Even in the manliest of cultures, mothers, wives, mistresses, and sisters will often play the role of power behind the throne.

But holding to only that role is also too stereo-typical and honestly boring.  By most accounts, we live in a patriarchal society today.  Do women have no voice?  no power?  Think about the kids you knew growing up.  Chances are, at least one of their mothers was mean.  You know what we’re talking about!  In different eras she might have been called a hellcat, a shrew, a bitch or whatever, but she ruled her house.  Dad might have brought home the paychecks, but Mom laid down the law.  There was no “Just wait until your father gets home” in that house.

Do women like this hold power?  Hell yeah!  And they aren’t all that uncommon either.  Some might hide their authority better, but many don’t see a reason to.  And just as these women likely rule homes, they rule businesses too.  Check in to the quaint inn in the small town and the mild innkeeper will happily get you a room and have his staff get you seated in the restaurant area.  He’s a pleasant chap, and all smiles and service.  But while you’re eating, you hear the true authority in the inn bellowing from the kitchen.  The innkeeper’s wife is She Who Must Be Obeyed, and from the tone of the conversation, she is!

Admittedly, these are stereo-types, but simply by the fact that these stereo-types exist, seems to show that not all women are meek and sheltered housewives never let out the door.  There will undoubtedly be some of those, but it won’t be all of them.  We do want to leave you with one last idea here.

We assume that every character, whether PC or NPC, has a mother.  Most of them will have known her, though a small percentage may have lost their mothers early on.  How much influence did Mother have on her children?  The mere assumption that mothers hold no power in any society ignores the fact that mothers influence their children, to a great degree.  They teach them the fundamentals of culture and society, and often most of the basic life skills as well.

It is not the goal of this article to have you foster a women’s liberation movement in your game world.  In truth, the vast majority of women in your fantasy world are far too busy raising children, helping on the farm or business, managing the household, and being wives to be bothered with ideas like that.  They aren’t looking for high ideals, though they might appreciate a bit of help cleaning up after dinner.

 

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This post was written as part of The 50^th Edition aka All About More Miscellaneous FRPG Stuff, the latest in our Small Bites editions.  Each Small Bites book looks deeply at one subject, a character archetype, a race/monster, a style of questing, or some other role-playing/world building subject.  However, as an “anniversary” edition, this one is more of a mishmash of items that didn’t quite fit one of our previous themes closely enough and therefore didn’t get published in that book.  This isn’t a “best of” edition!  It’s a kitchen sink edition!

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