Changes

{{generalize}}

{{generalize}}

'''Women''' is the plural for the female of the human species, with the biological role of bearing and nurturing offspring.  In preparation for this role, women's breasts begin to grow at puberty, forming the most striking physical difference between women and men after the reproductive organs.  Other differences include a layer of subcutaneous fat under the skin which hides the underlying musculature and a wider pelvis to facilitate carrying the [[baby]] and allowing it to be born.  Women also have a greater proportion of fine vellus hair over certain areas of their skin (such as their face and legs) than the coarse terminal hair which appears on men. {{fact}}

'''Women''' is the plural for the female of the human species, with the biological role of bearing offspring ([[pregnancy]] and [[childbirth]]).  In preparation for this role, women's breasts begin to grow at puberty, forming the most obvious physical difference between women and men other than the reproductive organs.  Other differences include a layer of subcutaneous fat under the skin which hides the underlying musculature, and a wider pelvis to facilitate carrying the [[baby]] and allowing it to be born.  Women also have a greater proportion of fine vellus hair over certain areas of their skin (such as their face and legs) than the coarse terminal hair which appears on men. {{fact}}

While men have typically two or three times more upper body strength than women, their leg strength is comparable and women have proven more durable in feats of physical endurance. Women have slightly longer average lifespans than men, which results in women overtaking men in population by middle age despite a 1.05:1 boy to girl ratio at birth in the United States.  This rate varies among countries. {{fact}}

While men have typically two or three times more upper body strength than women, their leg strength is comparable and women have proven more durable in feats of physical endurance. Women have slightly longer average lifespans than men, which results in women overtaking men in population by middle age despite a 1.05:1 boy to girl ratio at birth in the United States.  This rate varies among countries. {{fact}}

== Women in history ==

== Women in history ==

Compared to men, relatively few women have had impact on history as leaders in diverse fields, but a small number of women have had enormous impact.  They include [[Isabella of Spain]], [[Joan of Arc]], [[Margaret Thatcher]], [[Elizabeth I]], [[Boudicca]], [[Catherine the Great]], [[Cleopatra]], [[Marie Curie]], [[Benazir Bhutto]], [[Golda Meir]], [[Indira Gandhi]], [[Lucretia Mott]], [[Susan B. Anthony]], [[Aung San Suu Kyi]], and [[Theresa of Calcutta]].

Compared to men, relatively few women have had impact on history as leaders in diverse fields, but a small number of women have had enormous impact.  They include [[Isabella of Spain]], [[Joan of Arc]], [[Margaret Thatcher]], [[Elizabeth I]], [[Boudicca]], [[Catherine the Great]], [[Cleopatra]], [[Marie Curie]], [[Benazir Bhutto]], [[Golda Meir]], [[Indira Gandhi]], [[Lucretia Mott]], [[Susan B. Anthony]], [[Aung San Suu Kyi]], [[Michelle Bachelet]], and [[Theresa of Calcutta]].

== Women in the Bible ==

== Women in the Bible ==

=== New Testament statements on the role of women ===

=== New Testament statements on the role of women ===

Saint Paul also has much to say on the status of women in society, most memorably that women should submit to their husbands just as the church submits to God.

Saint Paul also has much to say on the status of women in society, most memorably that women should submit to their husbands just as the church submits to Christ.

<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians%205:22-24&version=9 Ephesians 5:22-24 ]</ref>

<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians%205:22-24&version=9 Ephesians 5:22-24 ]</ref>

<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2011:8-9;&version=9; I Corinthians 11:8-9]</ref>

<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2011:8-9;&version=9; I Corinthians 11:8-9]</ref>

<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2011:4-7;&version=9; I Corinthians 11:4-7]</ref>

<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2011:4-7;&version=9; I Corinthians 11:4-7]</ref>

<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2014:34-35;&version=9; I Corinthians 14:34-35]</ref>

<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2014:34-35;&version=9; I Corinthians 14:34-35]</ref>

The Bible also states that if a man sells his daughter into slavery she must consent and "not go out as the menservants do." (Exodus 21:7)

The [[Old Testament]] law also states that if a man sells his daughter into slavery she must consent and "not go out as the menservants do." (Exodus 21:7)

The New Testament contains many instructions regarding the role of women:

The [[New Testament]] contains several instructions regarding the role of women:

# Women are to dress modestly<ref>1 Timothy 2:9</ref><ref>Peter 3:2-6</ref>.

# Women are to dress modestly<ref>1 Timothy 2:9</ref><ref>Peter 3:2-6</ref>.

# Women may learn in silence, but may not be permitted to teach<ref>1 Timothy 2:11-12</ref>. Some interpretations limit this rule to the teaching of doctrine.

# Women may learn in silence, but may not be permitted to teach<ref>1 Timothy 2:11-12</ref>. Some interpretations limit this rule to the teaching of doctrine.

# Women are to be subservient to and follow the instructions of their husbands<ref>Ephesians 5:22-24</ref><ref>Colossians 3:18</ref><ref>Titus 2:4-5</ref><ref>1 Peter 3:1-7</ref>.

# Women are to be subservient to and follow the instructions of their husbands<ref>Ephesians 5:22-24</ref><ref>Colossians 3:18</ref><ref>Titus 2:4-5</ref><ref>1 Peter 3:1-7</ref>.

These viewpoints are not not widely accepted in secular, first-world nations, although many believers still adhere to them.

These viewpoints are not not widely accepted in secular, first-world nations, although many believers still adhere to them. However, Christians do not always agree on how literal or universal these directives are intended to be. For example, dressing modestly is interpreted by some [[Anabaptist]]s to mean that women should only wear black or dull colors and that dresses should cover the entire arms and legs, whereas most non-Anabaptist Christians consider the directive to modesty as simply meaning that garments should not be wrongly provocative. The directive that women should not speak in church is regarded by some as being literal for all situations, but due to other New Testament passages which indicate that women were allowed to publicly testify in the early church {{fact}}, the most common Christian interpretation of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 is that women in the Corinthian church were in the habit of conversing casually and gossiping during the church service, and that the apostle Paul was telling them not to do that.

==References==

==References==

== Related Topics ==

== Related Topics ==

[[Men]]

[[Men]]