Blue_Kryptonite
First Post
It turns out in most of my campaign world, women are clearly superior. Most of the major deities, relegious authorities, monarchs, and elected officials are women. Men serve, women rule. There are, of course, exceptions.
Tell me about the women in your world!
- Thread starter LostSoul
- Start date
Huh. Ya know, I've never really thought about it in terms of gender roles or sexism. We JUST started a new homebrew, and the PCs have already met three women of considerable power... the town mayor, an NPC cleric (and possible permanent addition to the party) and the head of a mercenary squad/security force. There are women scattered through-out the heirarchy of the churches and political organizations, minor and major female NPCs villians they could potentially face, and "townsfolk" NPCs for them to interact with.
Its mostly men in the organized army though... the law is "every second son" spends three years in the militia, then re-signs for another three (and eventually career) or retires and comes home... this leads to a lot of men with martial training scattered around, and not so many women.
I guess without even consciously thinking about it I've added a healthy mix of male and females throughout. Does that make me subconsciously egalitarian?
-Reddist
Its mostly men in the organized army though... the law is "every second son" spends three years in the militia, then re-signs for another three (and eventually career) or retires and comes home... this leads to a lot of men with martial training scattered around, and not so many women.
I guess without even consciously thinking about it I've added a healthy mix of male and females throughout. Does that make me subconsciously egalitarian?
-Reddist
Timeboxer
Explorer
LostSoul said:It looks like most people have gender equality, which is cool...
...but where are the lesbian vampire sorcerers?
Not that there's anything wrong with lesbian vampire sorcerers. Actual quote from our World of Darkness Mage character creation session, at which every player and character was female:
"Can we just assume that everybody here is gay?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, good."
Anyway, somewhat back to the topic at hand. I have to admit that I tend to prefer somewhat egalitarian settings (at least minimally on the level of adventurers), mostly because it makes the most sense to me. This is kind of like Terry Pratchett's approach to the Discworld -- there isn't that much sexism or racism because speciesism trumps those very easily.
And then of course there's ethnicism and nationalism. In general, the approach I take is that on the whole, gender makes a difference in interpersonal relationships, but sexism is small potatoes compared to the other -isms out there. (And besides, adventurers tend to be a bit more privileged in terms of exemption from prejudice, I think.)
By the way -- this last summer, I played in a game in which I was the only female of nine players, in which the setting was an exotic plane in which I was the only existing female who was not locked up in some sort of breeding facility. And those were fun times, let me tell you.
Ah -- the diversity of EN World; it is sometimes breathtaking how differently some people are experiencing RPGs than you are.
Amy raises a good point, though: there are many grounds for discrimination and it is often surprising how a society will ignore one that seems obvious to us while paying close attention to another our society doesn't even have the capacity to perceive.
While the Romans had all kinds of forms of discrimination -- slavery, sexism, ethnic discrimination, religious discrimination, other forms so important in our modern world like homophobia and racism were not really available concepts to them. Similarly, even if we wanted to, just imagine trying to systematically discriminate against people in North America or Europe based on Vedic caste -- we wouldn't even know what category to put most people in.
I think to create any really believable world, deleting some identity categories and adding others is essential.
Amy raises a good point, though: there are many grounds for discrimination and it is often surprising how a society will ignore one that seems obvious to us while paying close attention to another our society doesn't even have the capacity to perceive.
While the Romans had all kinds of forms of discrimination -- slavery, sexism, ethnic discrimination, religious discrimination, other forms so important in our modern world like homophobia and racism were not really available concepts to them. Similarly, even if we wanted to, just imagine trying to systematically discriminate against people in North America or Europe based on Vedic caste -- we wouldn't even know what category to put most people in.
I think to create any really believable world, deleting some identity categories and adding others is essential.
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alsih2o
First Post
The ttwo main human factions in my world are the Maissers Medieval tech, look like brazilians) and the Chakta (nomadic tech, look like plains indians)
Maisseners see women as one step closer to the Gods than men as they can produce children. In all other respects and jobs they are considered equals.
Chakta is the major plains tribe {My players quit reading here}
Maisseners see women as one step closer to the Gods than men as they can produce children. In all other respects and jobs they are considered equals.
Chakta is the major plains tribe {My players quit reading here}
Chakta means "Woman" and what the PCs see most frequntly is the men, who serve as warriors, hunters and protectors of the true chakta, who are the women. Basic issues of food, travel and housing are pretty equally divided but tribal decisions are all left to the women.
This division is not seen as unfair because everyone sees themselves as having a purpose, and no purpose is greater than any other. An outsider may see the women as being in charge, but in Chakta reality being in charge is just another job, like cracking nuts or skinning bison.
Chakta women are considered virgins until they give birth. As soon as the baby has lived one whole moon cycle (30 days) it is considered a person and is placed amongst the men of the tribe on a cloth. Everyone watches very closely to the babies reactions to the environment until the baby "Chooses" a father. This man is relegeted to helping that woman raise her baby.
Many times the women of the tribe will stand behind the man they wish the child to choose banging a cymbal or twisting colored ribbons in the air hoping to draw the childs attention to their choice.
This is not a marriage. Marriages are all arranged and give sexual rights and property rights to both partners. Consequently the genetic father has only a chance of being seen as the baby's father. Many Chakta men love their parents and have an acceptance of who their parents are married to as well.
This division is not seen as unfair because everyone sees themselves as having a purpose, and no purpose is greater than any other. An outsider may see the women as being in charge, but in Chakta reality being in charge is just another job, like cracking nuts or skinning bison.
Chakta women are considered virgins until they give birth. As soon as the baby has lived one whole moon cycle (30 days) it is considered a person and is placed amongst the men of the tribe on a cloth. Everyone watches very closely to the babies reactions to the environment until the baby "Chooses" a father. This man is relegeted to helping that woman raise her baby.
Many times the women of the tribe will stand behind the man they wish the child to choose banging a cymbal or twisting colored ribbons in the air hoping to draw the childs attention to their choice.
This is not a marriage. Marriages are all arranged and give sexual rights and property rights to both partners. Consequently the genetic father has only a chance of being seen as the baby's father. Many Chakta men love their parents and have an acceptance of who their parents are married to as well.
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Tonguez
A suffusion of yellow
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el-remmen
Moderator Emeritus
In Aquerra, it really matters on which culture, which geographical area and which race.
Dwarves have a patriarchal culture where men and women's roles are carefully deliniated with all decision-making processes being the hands of the males. Among women only a widow can own property, and even in that case her father or eldest son can legally take it from her.
Aquerra's nearly androgenous Elves only see gender differences in terms of their role in childbirth because of a biological necessity - and otherwise have no other specific gender roles or rules about marriage or positions of power.
Halfings are matriarchal, but the roles of warriors and hunters are still traditionally male roles (though the sherrif can be male or female).
Gnomes are egalitarian, with some typical gender roles, but in terms of authority and leadership gnomish women can be leaders (even if it is rare).
Orc and goblin cultures are patriarchal and misogynistic.
Humans vary widely.
Examples:
In fuedalistic Neergaard women are Wives (as Teflon Billy described) with occasionally a woman becoming a warrior, and typically only if she has the station to enforce her will, and men willing to let her do it.
In the more "progressive" magocracy of Thricia, men and women are treated equally among the upper classes and in urban areas, while more rural areas have more traditional roles and attitudes.
Dwarves have a patriarchal culture where men and women's roles are carefully deliniated with all decision-making processes being the hands of the males. Among women only a widow can own property, and even in that case her father or eldest son can legally take it from her.
Aquerra's nearly androgenous Elves only see gender differences in terms of their role in childbirth because of a biological necessity - and otherwise have no other specific gender roles or rules about marriage or positions of power.
Halfings are matriarchal, but the roles of warriors and hunters are still traditionally male roles (though the sherrif can be male or female).
Gnomes are egalitarian, with some typical gender roles, but in terms of authority and leadership gnomish women can be leaders (even if it is rare).
Orc and goblin cultures are patriarchal and misogynistic.
Humans vary widely.
Examples:
In fuedalistic Neergaard women are Wives (as Teflon Billy described) with occasionally a woman becoming a warrior, and typically only if she has the station to enforce her will, and men willing to let her do it.
In the more "progressive" magocracy of Thricia, men and women are treated equally among the upper classes and in urban areas, while more rural areas have more traditional roles and attitudes.
Galethorn
First Post
Well, I'll give it a breakdown, nation to nation...
The North: viking/saxon-like culture, but pretty much completely egalitarian.
The South: (mostly) patriarchal society with pre-islam middle-eastern overtones (think of Carthaginians and Armenians); women usually don't get into positions of power except under strange circumstances.
Dornlund/Elondale: (generally) male-dominant medieval european overtones, but only male-dominant by vague traditions that are frequently broken (i.e. women as rulers and warriors with enough frequency to be unusual but not unheard of or feared). The lower down the social ladder you go, the more blurred the division between genders is.
Ennoria: very patriarchal medieval european society where women have very specific roles; those who go outside of the boundries are mocked/shunned.
Arnadûn: medieval european-style culture, but with very lax gender boundries; the military is almost an eighth women, about half of the land-owners are women, and even the position of monarch has been held by at least one queen for every four kings. Arnadûn isn't truly egalitarian, but it's better than most places.
Tyrnia: 'celts evolved into the feudal era' society, where women and men literally are equal. Just as many girls go into training as boys for the military, and (after infants are weaned), it's just as common to have a father at home as a mother.
Elves: completely egalitarian. Period.
Gnomes: completely egalitarian, like elves.
Dwarves: men outnumber women 3-to-1, so dwarf women, while not the official rulers of state, have a very important position in society, and are loved by all, known as the 'blood-smiths'.
Giants: back before their numbers dwindled to ~5-10 world-wide (including one of the PCs), giants were a largely egalitarian society, partly because their women are naturally--though shorter--just as strong, aggressive, and tough as the men (to a far greater degree than any human culture, even the Tyrnians).
So, now for some notable women...
Queen Keara
One of the three children of the last king of Tyrnia, Keara rules the kingdom alongside her brother Royan and sister Nola. Next to her two siblings, Keara is the idealistic middle child. The tall, dark-haired beauty rules over her lush, forested piece of the realm as a much-loved queen who, to the people, 'can do no wrong'. However, she is somewhat inexperienced, and has made many mistakes, to the chagrin of her co-rulers. That said, she deeply regrets ever mis-step, and can be credited with never making the same mistake twice. All that said, she is obviously the better ruler compared to her younger brother, and not too far from her sister's skills.
As is the custom in Tyrnia, the young queen has trained most of her life in the arts of war, and is herself a peerless horse-archer and battlefield commander, if not strategist; her presence on the field won many battles during the wars of succession after her father's death.
Queen Nola
Keara's older sister is everything Keara is not: small, shrewd, proud, and practical. She rules with an iron fist, and is somewhat of an autocrat. The people in her rocky, mountainous part of the realm don't particularly like her, but the vast mineral wealth more than makes up for the high taxes and cold winters.
When war broke out at her father's death, Nola watched her sister win battle after battle. Unlike most, however, she saw how she could win the war herself. Through skillful use of strategy and logistics, not to mention some southron mercenaries, the war was won. However, Keara got all the glory, and Nola has been nursing that wound to her pride ever since.
Ayla of Caer Tolwyc
Ayla is a fiery, impetuous red-headed warrior of Tyrnia, and she lives life to the hilt. The ninteen-year-old is best with a spear in hand, but she joined the other characters because of her knowledge of herb-lore and healing.
Felena of Elondale
Felena is a keenly intelligent, playful young woman with more guile, grace, and determination than you shake a stick at. She stands close to six feet tall, and puts every inch of it to use with her bow and sword. Though her smarts are her most obvious trait, she has a deeply compassionate nature.
Banowaith
A gnome from the forest near Erynost, Banowaith is deeply insightful. From atop her eagle, she does quite a bit of the scouting for her companions. That said, as a gnome, she is connected to the magical world, and uses her talents (mostly) for healing. Adding to her uniqueness, Banowaith is great friends with the giant, Eben.
Ok, that's all I'm going to type for the time being; there are more women, but those are the most important ones.
The North: viking/saxon-like culture, but pretty much completely egalitarian.
The South: (mostly) patriarchal society with pre-islam middle-eastern overtones (think of Carthaginians and Armenians); women usually don't get into positions of power except under strange circumstances.
Dornlund/Elondale: (generally) male-dominant medieval european overtones, but only male-dominant by vague traditions that are frequently broken (i.e. women as rulers and warriors with enough frequency to be unusual but not unheard of or feared). The lower down the social ladder you go, the more blurred the division between genders is.
Ennoria: very patriarchal medieval european society where women have very specific roles; those who go outside of the boundries are mocked/shunned.
Arnadûn: medieval european-style culture, but with very lax gender boundries; the military is almost an eighth women, about half of the land-owners are women, and even the position of monarch has been held by at least one queen for every four kings. Arnadûn isn't truly egalitarian, but it's better than most places.
Tyrnia: 'celts evolved into the feudal era' society, where women and men literally are equal. Just as many girls go into training as boys for the military, and (after infants are weaned), it's just as common to have a father at home as a mother.
Elves: completely egalitarian. Period.
Gnomes: completely egalitarian, like elves.
Dwarves: men outnumber women 3-to-1, so dwarf women, while not the official rulers of state, have a very important position in society, and are loved by all, known as the 'blood-smiths'.
Giants: back before their numbers dwindled to ~5-10 world-wide (including one of the PCs), giants were a largely egalitarian society, partly because their women are naturally--though shorter--just as strong, aggressive, and tough as the men (to a far greater degree than any human culture, even the Tyrnians).
So, now for some notable women...
Queen Keara
One of the three children of the last king of Tyrnia, Keara rules the kingdom alongside her brother Royan and sister Nola. Next to her two siblings, Keara is the idealistic middle child. The tall, dark-haired beauty rules over her lush, forested piece of the realm as a much-loved queen who, to the people, 'can do no wrong'. However, she is somewhat inexperienced, and has made many mistakes, to the chagrin of her co-rulers. That said, she deeply regrets ever mis-step, and can be credited with never making the same mistake twice. All that said, she is obviously the better ruler compared to her younger brother, and not too far from her sister's skills.
As is the custom in Tyrnia, the young queen has trained most of her life in the arts of war, and is herself a peerless horse-archer and battlefield commander, if not strategist; her presence on the field won many battles during the wars of succession after her father's death.
Queen Nola
Keara's older sister is everything Keara is not: small, shrewd, proud, and practical. She rules with an iron fist, and is somewhat of an autocrat. The people in her rocky, mountainous part of the realm don't particularly like her, but the vast mineral wealth more than makes up for the high taxes and cold winters.
When war broke out at her father's death, Nola watched her sister win battle after battle. Unlike most, however, she saw how she could win the war herself. Through skillful use of strategy and logistics, not to mention some southron mercenaries, the war was won. However, Keara got all the glory, and Nola has been nursing that wound to her pride ever since.
Ayla of Caer Tolwyc
Ayla is a fiery, impetuous red-headed warrior of Tyrnia, and she lives life to the hilt. The ninteen-year-old is best with a spear in hand, but she joined the other characters because of her knowledge of herb-lore and healing.
Felena of Elondale
Felena is a keenly intelligent, playful young woman with more guile, grace, and determination than you shake a stick at. She stands close to six feet tall, and puts every inch of it to use with her bow and sword. Though her smarts are her most obvious trait, she has a deeply compassionate nature.
Banowaith
A gnome from the forest near Erynost, Banowaith is deeply insightful. From atop her eagle, she does quite a bit of the scouting for her companions. That said, as a gnome, she is connected to the magical world, and uses her talents (mostly) for healing. Adding to her uniqueness, Banowaith is great friends with the giant, Eben.
Ok, that's all I'm going to type for the time being; there are more women, but those are the most important ones.
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barsoomcore
Unattainable Ideal
You can probably predict that Barsoom doesn't worry itself too much with such things. Not really interested, don't really care, too busy fighting dinosaurs, swinging on ropes and being witty to worry about dreary stuff like that.
Except insofar as I find women generally more interesting people than men, so most of the really interesting NPCs on Barsoom are women. At least, to me, but then if you read the previous sentence you already knew that. Bad guys and good guys are pretty evenly distributed between the genders.
I certainly place no gender restrictions on my players, and nobody considers "Is this appropriate for a lady" when planning adventures.
And yes, we do have lesbian vampire sorceresses. Or rather, there's A lesbian vampire sorceress, but she's a doozy...
Seriously. Why WOULDN'T you have lesbian vampire sorceresses? Is there some kind of downside? Ever walked into a party and said, "Eh, too many lesbian vampire sorceresses for me. I'm outa here."?
Except insofar as I find women generally more interesting people than men, so most of the really interesting NPCs on Barsoom are women. At least, to me, but then if you read the previous sentence you already knew that. Bad guys and good guys are pretty evenly distributed between the genders.
I certainly place no gender restrictions on my players, and nobody considers "Is this appropriate for a lady" when planning adventures.
And yes, we do have lesbian vampire sorceresses. Or rather, there's A lesbian vampire sorceress, but she's a doozy...
Seriously. Why WOULDN'T you have lesbian vampire sorceresses? Is there some kind of downside? Ever walked into a party and said, "Eh, too many lesbian vampire sorceresses for me. I'm outa here."?
