Woman, Church & State The Original Exposé of Male Collaboration Against the Female Sex

"Woman, Church & State" by Matilda Joslyn Gage is a late 19th-century exploration of the historical relationship between women, religious organizations, and governmental powers. It challenges the idea that Christianity improved women's lives, arguing instead that women once possessed greater authority within matriarchal societies. Gage begins by expressing her anger towards the male-centered Church and State, which she believes have consistently oppressed women. She contends that women had more freedom in ancient civilizations, especially under matriarchal rule, and she intends to disprove the claim that Christianity improved their status in comparison to earlier times. With her introductory arguments, Gage prepares the reader for an investigation into historical examples that expose the systematic abuse of women as imposed by religious beliefs and social standards.