During the Ancient Mesopotamian time, the roles and behavior of each sex was expressed in values, customs, laws, and social roles. A series of texts show how gradually men's superior legal and social status was created. Overall, men had more rights than women. Although high status women had more rights than ordinary men and women, lower class women still had many restrictions. They were put in forced labor camps and received fewer rations than men. If a woman was guilty of talking to a man disrespectfully, she would have her mouth crushed with a hot brick. Widowed women were also restricted to remarry. As time went on, the restrictions of women seemed to be coming to an end. Reforms helped improve women's legal and social standing in their own communities. By the 1960's family laws were partially reformed for the first time and women were given electoral rights. (Price)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChPB17rxbEQ
