User:SusunW/Women's rights in Egypt

Women's rights in Egypt

Legal entity
From the earliest records of Egypt, women, regardless of marital status had formal rights nearly equal to men and both men and women had personal responsibility for their own actions. Women were able to sue and be sued; they could serve on juries and as witnesses; and they could witness legal documents.

Property rights
Ancient Egyptian women could acquire, dispose of or own either real or personal property in their own right.

Marriage and family
Marriage in ancient Egypt does not show evidence of being a legal or religious procedure, but instead a private affair of which no state record was kept.

Social entity
According to Old Kingdom Records, though women had a legal identity, their social identity or rank was derived from their husband.

Economic entity
Women were able to be merchants or priestesses, and are often depicted as devotees of the goddess Hathor. Documentation from the New Kingdom reflects that women were treated equally in their economic dealings and were taxed as were men.