In ancient India during the Vedic times, the women had a highly respected status. There have been scholars like Maitraiyee, Kaatyaani, Vidyotma etc. They were respected and even worshipped.
But in the medieval period due to repeated invasions, they were not allowed to work outside. They always had to cover their faces with a veil (dupatta) or they have to wear burka. They were not allowed to vote. There was a Sati system in which widows had to burn themselves alive in their husband’s pyres. If they refused to do so their in-laws or their parents would push them into the fire. But this system was abolished with the efforts of some great reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Rai, Swami Dayanand Saraswati and other great social reformers.

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