Woman: individual or possession? We live in an extremely patriarchal society and the eighteenth century and the Restoration were the historical moment in which this became an increasingly constant and authoritative reality. The woman had no rights. The only way to achieve their goals was to stand up to men and do what they wanted, write literature or act like prostitutes, they had no real opportunities, but doing this would have meant having a busy life. As a result, many would simply marry and continue to live as objects dominated and controlled by society, a society subjugated and proscribed by men. Women in this period were not taken very seriously, they were just an added asset in a man's collection. These female figures were isolated from society due to their gender. While they were single women, they were targeted and had to behave strictly as society wanted. While in their homes as dependents, they were subservient to what their fathers had to say, and after they married they were expected to act as subordinate women and be willing to please their husbands at all times. The house had to be cleaned, children had to be looked after and fed and of course women had to be able to do all the household chores without ever complaining, they were expected to be the perfect domestic housewife. After marriage they were no longer seen as individuals, but as the property of their husbands. Her property was automatically hers, so in fact she had nothing and did not even own herself because it belonged to her husband. Husbands were the authority and treated their wives the same way slaves were treated, with no free speech, no privacy, high... middle of the card... women are individuals who pose as property of the male authority. Men have dominated society since knowledge has existed and still today they pose as superior. WORKS CITED AND CONSULTED Addison and Steele. “The Aims of the Spectator”. Norton Anthology English Literature.8th Ed. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2006. 2473-2475. Addison and Steele. "The spectators' club". Norton Anthology English Literature.8th Ed. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2006. 2470-2473Johnson, Samuel.”Rasselas.” Norton Anthology English Literature. Ed.Steven Greenblatt Et. Al.8th. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2006. 2680-2743 Reynolds, Bridget. "Patriarchy." Norman Rockwell. April 10, 2000. Ithaca College. 6 Sep 2008"Women in the eighteenth century." August 27, 2008. University of Miami. September 8, 2008 {http://www.units.muohio.edu/miamimoo/images/thompsj9/wmn.html}.