Although in the 21st century women have much the same rights as men in the western world, the major changes came in the 19th and 20th century. Women ran the household, bore the children, were nurses, mothers, wives, neighbours, friends and teachers, but very little of their activities were formally recorded. A great book to read is "A Short History of Women" by Kate Walbert. As we move forward, much more documentation will take place when it comes to the female species.