User:Marbarr/sandbox

Gender
There is some controversy over the relationship between the Toltec and the Maya. However, understanding that the Maya were for a period ruled by the Toltec and the Toltec god, Quetzalcoat, there is likely a connection between Maya gender roles and that of the Toltec. According to archeologists, iconographic and semasiographic studies of Mayan remains reveal that masculine figures were often depicted predominantly, but often are depicted with a feminine figure beside them. Regardless, there are still cases of the feminine being the central character of a given piece. The depiction of feminine figures on clay vessels for rituals provides reason to believe that there was a gendered view of women for their fertility. Additionally, Coggins references iconography to suggest that, though it was not extremely common, women in Classic Maya society sometimes held valued roles in politics and leadership. The predominance of the depiction of masculine figures does not cancel out the depiction and inclusion of female figures. Though there is evidence that leads us to believe that leadership roles were more often held by males, it is undeniable that females were considered to have value due to their depiction on ritual vessels and power due to their occasional positions of leadership.