Women in YN

[Kuominwave]

Name of country: Kuominwave Empire

What percentage of the population do women make up? 43%
What is the perception of women in society? No less capable than men.
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? No
Do women usually hold a job? Yes
If so, what kind of jobs? Same as men
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? Legally speaking, no. All jobs that are legal for men are legal for women.
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? No
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? Mostly neutral

[Synne Industries]

Name of country: Synne Industries

What percentage of the population do women make up? 48%
What is the perception of women in society? It is expected for women to learn how to defend themselves and the country. Statistically, almost all girls will be able to operate some form of firearm by the age of 9 opposed to boys whose average age of firearm operation is 11 years
What clothes are women expected to wear? Practical clothing fit for the situation.
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? No
Do women usually hold a job? Yes
If so, what kind of jobs? Usually military or security but there is no opposition against women taking other jobs.
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? No
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? No, there have never been any restricting laws
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? The public supports it as any job done well is perceived as positive.

[Conservativesion]

Name of country: The Commonwealth of Conservativesion

What percentage of the population do women make up? 51%
What is the perception of women in society? Women in Conservativesion are seen as companions to Men. They are sometimes looked down upon and are seen as weaker or not as capable in the workplace as men are. Most mothers handle household work and tasks rather than work during the day.
What clothes are women expected to wear? Women are expected to dress appropriately and conservatively at all times while outside of the household.
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? No.
Do women usually hold a job? A large portion of unmarried women do.
If so, what kind of jobs? Most jobs that don't involve physical labor.
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? Armed forces, priests/pastors, and airline pilots.
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? Yes, some factory positions have recently been allowed to women across the nation.
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? Public opinion holds that the married woman's place is in the household, and so having a job would make a women seem like she is unmarried.

[Vedastia]

Name of country: The Kingdom of Vedastia

What percentage of the population do women make up? 51%
What is the perception of women in society? They are expected to be caregivers more so than men, but aren't viewed as any lesser than them.
What clothes are women expected to wear? Women are expected to wear business suits (with either skirts or slacks), dresses, or blouses with either skirts or slacks in a professional setting, but men are expected to wear reciprocal attire, also.
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? Usually, in a public environment.
Do women usually hold a job? A majority of women of working age are employed outside of the home, so yes; single women more so, married women less so.
If so, what kind of jobs? Office work, retail, assembly-line work, caregivers, some administrative roles, otherwise mostly the same jobs as men, with the exception of hard labor, such as construction or mining.
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? No.
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? Combat roles in the military.
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? Most people believe that having women in the workforce is normal and acceptable.

[Zeganas]

Name of country:

What percentage of the population do women make up?41% (though 41% are males because the remaining 18% are the hermaphrodite ninlaians)
What is the perception of women in society? they're viewed as equal to men
What clothes are women expected to wear? gender neutral clothing similar to men
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? no
Do women usually hold a job? yes
If so, what kind of jobs? a lot of women go into the stem fields and are good at the arts
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? not really
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? no, it's been like this for decades
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? 99/100 it's positive

[Miilaria]

Name of country: Miilaria

What percentage of the population do women make up? 76%
What is the perception of women in society? Women are considered to be superior to men.
What clothes are women expected to wear? Anythhing they desire.
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? No, they have free choice.
Do women usually hold a job? Yes.
If so, what kind of jobs? Any, the highest ranking jobs are usually held by women.
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? No.
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? No.
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? It is normal.

[Aldanore]

Name of country: The Kingdom of Aldanore

What percentage of the population do women make up? 50ish
What is the perception of women in society? Early 1800s America. Helper to males. Physicially and logically inferior.
What clothes are women expected to wear? Modest and feminine. Neoclassical (in the sense of style, not period). No jewelry.
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? No; such is the realm of prostitutes.
Do women usually hold a job? No; women are expected to marry early. However, celibate women are expected to provide for themselves. While uncommon, celibacy is not frowned upon.
If so, what kind of jobs? N/A
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? Military combat or officer roles, law enforcement, clergy, and any sort of politcal or civil office.
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? No.
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? Not ideal, but acceptable

[Catarra]

Name of country:Catarra

What percentage of the population do women make up? a little bit over the half.
What is the perception of women in society? favourable. But, there is the perception that they still have to close a gap in parity with men.
What clothes are women expected to wear? A much wider range than men. It is unlikely to find men with skirts or high heels unless itàs carnival.
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? yes, they are. Women like to see herself beauty. It depends of many factors.
Do women usually hold a job? they do.
If so, what kind of jobs? specially in the sercices sector.
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? No... unless we consider Catholic clergymen or muslim imams jobs.
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? Serving in the army special forces.
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? favourable. As that gets them independency.

[The Plantain Republic]

Name of country: the Plantain Republic

What percentage of the population do women make up?: A good 49.5% of the population are, legally, women.
What is the perception of women in society?: Though the Republic has a slight patriarchal bent, the most common perception of women among country natives, as opposed to most western cultures, is simply that they are slightly-shorter, slightly-less-muscular men with breasts.
What clothes are women expected to wear?: Comfortable items of clothing in brown or grey shades and hues are popular amongst both section, but Plantainite girls seem to have a special thing for traditional seashell jewellry. Both skirts and pants are treated as unisex articles of clothing. Passing up a bra in favour of tying down the breasts with a strip of gauze is common amongst the working class due to its cheapness.
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics?: No. This is mainly because the Republic is humid as all Hell, and that’d only make it run and get into their eyes.
Do women usually hold a job?: Depends on the social class. Women in the highest echelons of society aren’t expected to do any kind of work whatsoever, while women in the lowest of the lower class often have 3 to 5 part-time jobs, just like their male counterparts.
If so, what kind of jobs?: Generally, something in a retail or other service position, but popular culture most commonly depicts the Plantainite working woman as something glamorous and vaguely sensual, like a hostess at a nightclub.
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally?: They’re not allowed in the secret police. This is mainly not because of any misogyny and simply because the Commandant Generalissimo, who spends the most time around them, prefers the company of other men.
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women?: Well, most of them have always allowed women.
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs?: The populace thinks that, if you don’t hold a job, you’re either rich and successful or a lazy cretin who can’t take orders. So, yeah, pretty high opinions all around.

[Maydona]

Name of country: Republic of Maydon

Maydon has a myriad of different species but for this survey we'll be focusing on our B-Type human populations. In our Republic they're two different types of human. A-type Humans who come from The democratic States of Earth and The Tsardom of Targa, these are what are considered original humans which are (usually but not always) divided into two distinct genders (men and women). B-type Humans come from the various Planets that orbit Maydon, and are not divided into two distinct genders due to there being no sexual dimorphism between the sexes leaving Maydonian humans with a more feminine appearance than their Earth/Targa counter parts.
It's still completely unknown why this is or what caused this too happen to the Maydonian human population but genetic studies show that this trait appear in Maydonian humans over 8000 years ago, fossil records show that A-type humans used inhabit the planets of Maydon but their genetic line died off.
Scientists speculate that this trait may be due to alien tampering like how the human populations were seeded on the planets of Maydon and originate from Earth but due to the lack of evidence this speculation is usually dismissed.

What percentage of the population do women make up? technically 80% because there's no sexual dimorphism between sexes making our entire B-type human population appear like an A-type (Earth) women.
What is the perception of women in society? Human society is dominated by women in the public and private spheres
What clothes are women expected to wear? Current fashion trends usually come from our neighbours, The Democratic State of Earth (also commonly referred to as earth fashion) as well as many traditional Kaylian and Vavalonian dress. Many conscripts, cadets and active personnel can be seen in Military uniform.
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? Not expected but it is common
Do women usually hold a job? Almost every job is available to human women unless the job requires a non-human to fill that role.
If so, what kind of jobs? see above
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? Not legally but if you're not fit for the job you wont get it
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? see above
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? Too A-type humans who immigrate to our Republic maybe shocked to see so many women in work spaces usually reserved for A-type human men. Other than that there's no real opinion of this because it's seen as the norm.

[Nauticon]

Name of country: The Nomadic Peoples of Nauticon

What percentage of the population do women make up? 50%
What is the perception of women in society? Women are highly respected and considered sacred in society. Having a daughter is considered to bring honor to a family.
What clothes are women expected to wear? Women wear what ever they please in public and private settings
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? Only if they choose to do so
Do women usually hold a job? Yes
If so, what kind of jobs? Women often hold jobs of high political influence, business management, and communications.
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? Any job with high risk of physical injury
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? None that have not already been permitted
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? Women are considered the more intelligent sex and therefore it is not uncommon in society for them to be the primary income for a household. A woman's willingness to work reflects upon her household and her family, while working is not mandatory, society generally regards a woman of average status who shows zero work ethic to be shameful and raised improperly.

[Off TheHook]

Name of country: Off The Hook

What percentage of the population do women make up? 86%
What is the perception of women in society? Women (be they Inklings, Octolings or sea slugs) make up a high percentage of the population and are seen as key residents of the country.
What clothes are women expected to wear? Anything they want unless they're working for Queen Pearl. Then they are required to wear a full maid outfit.
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? No
Do women usually hold a job? Yes
If so, what kind of jobs? Practically all of the jobs. The only jobs women might not do are lower jobs meant for the jellyfish.
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? No
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? No. All have always allowed women.
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? It's the natural way of things.

-this post translated with InklingTranslate™

[Shikonjima]

Name of country:
The Principality of Shikonjima.

What percentage of the population do women make up?
53.24%.

What is the perception of women in society?
As normal people. A bit like men, just female.

What clothes are women expected to wear?
Whereas dresses are the primary choice of clothing, fashion generally is pretty much Western style, but there are also more traditional ones.

Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics?
No one expects anyone. If they wish to do so, no problem.

Do women usually hold a job?
Yes.

If so, what kind of jobs?
Everything you can imagine, same as men.

Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally?
Nope.

Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women?
Nope.

What is the public opinion of women holding jobs?
No one bothers. Shikonjima doesn't really have a tradition of discriminating against women.

[Mountain Pygmies]

Name of country:The Confederacy Of Mountain Pygmies.

What percentage of the population do women make up?Roughly 50%.
What is the perception of women in society?They are as strong, capable and tough as men.
What clothes are women expected to wear?Whatever they want.
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics?No.
Do women usually hold a job?Yes.
If so, what kind of jobs?Any.
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally?No.
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women?No, because women could already do any job.
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs?It is OK.

[Serlanda]

Name of country: Serlanda

What percentage of the population do women make up? 50.7%
What is the perception of women in society? Same rights as men
What clothes are women expected to wear? Same as men
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? Sometimes
Do women usually hold a job? Yes
If so, what kind of jobs? USUALLY jobs connected with people, like Education
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? No
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? No
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? Very good

[National Yorkshire]

Name of country: Yorkshire

What percentage of the population do women make up? 50.1%
What is the perception of women in society? Quite equal, although in rural areas masculinity in females may attract unwanted negative attention.
What clothes are women expected to wear? Western effeminate clothing.
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? Not particularly.
Do women usually hold a job? Yes
If so, what kind of jobs? Usually service jobs.
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? No.
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? The Yorkshire Army recently removed all barriers to female service.
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? Rather indifferent, although in rural areas it is somewhat frowned upon.

[The Brague]

Name of country: The Republic of the Brague

What percentage of the population do women make up? 53%
What is the perception of women in society? Somewhat equal to men. Equality is on its way but decades of patriarchal restriction are still somewhat present.
What clothes are women expected to wear? There's not really an expectation, but skirts with long boots are common. Fashionable overalls are common between both genders, and seen as unisex and classless, rather than masculine and lower class
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? No
Do women usually hold a job? Yes
If so, what kind of jobs? The same types of jobs as men
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? No
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? No
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? That it is good and important to the growing productiveness of the society.

[Shalotte]

Name of country: The Royal Isles of Shalotte

What percentage of the population do women make up? ~50%

What is the perception of women in society? In day-to-day life, Shalotte society is highly egalitarian in nature. Women are not perceived to be particularly different than men in abilities or responsibilities; indeed, the historic western notion of women staying at home would be anathema in Shalotte, where everybody is expected to 'pitch in' wherever possible. The only exception is the cultural tendency to trace lineage matrilineally, rather than patrilineally. Husbands join the clans of wives rather than the other way around, children inherit the mother's clan name, and matriarchs sit at the heads of clans. Shalottes traditionally believe that matrilineal descent is the only way to reliably trace lineage; unlike the frequent questions that may surround somebody's paternity, there is rarely any confusion as to who somebody's mother may be. In a land of limited resources and often-desperate conditions like Shalotte, it has historically been important for clans to be certain that their wealth and resources is inherited by the right people, rather than risk it all going to someone who may not even be related to them.

What clothes are women expected to wear? Men and women wear largely the same types of clothing. Shalottes of both sexes usually wear thick, hardy, traditional clothing designed to repel the unpleasant weather of their homeland, usually woollen and hand-made. Comfortable, lighter, more airy dress- or skirt-like (in some instances, items reminiscent of togas) clothing is preferred by people of any gender while indoors, though trousers, heavy-duty linen shirts, and multiple layers of woollen and linen wraps are preferred when outdoors. Wealthier Shalottes may top these layers with a leather overcoat instead of a linen jacket, for added waterproofing. Shalotte clothing has to protect the wearer against bitter cold, high wind speeds, and heavy rain, often all at the same time, while also remaining flexible and practical for performing outdoor labour. Only in terms of colour choices and decorations are there any noticeable differences; women tend to favour brighter colours with more elaborate patterns, while it is fashionable for men to wear darker colours, with simple or no patterns.

Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? No.

Do women usually hold a job? Yes.

If so, what kind of jobs? Women historically occupy all roles in Shalotte. Particularly in rural areas, community-minded Shalottes expected everybody to 'pitch in' to aid the survival of their families, friends, and communities - and owing to the tradition of matrilineal descent, it was particularly important for women to work to ensure the success of their families. With Shalotte suffering from particularly hard winters and poor soil, the notion of a 'housewife', or a woman otherwise staying at home, was never even considered by Shalottes. It would only be considered acceptable for a new mother to remain at home; the community as a whole would help to raise older children together, freeing up able bodies for other work. This ancient mindset carried over to the larger settlements of Shalotte during the brief period of urbanisation in the 1960s, when men and women in towns and cities like Alauna both began competing for the more 'advanced', service-based and educational roles that arose.

Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? No.

Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? Not applicable.

What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? As described above, it is generally expected, as it is for men.

[Afghanistan Punjab and Kashmir]

What percentage of the population do women make up? 60%
What are women typically seen as? As people, although they're supposed to be treated a bit more gently and protected more as part of Islam, chivalry(futtuwah) and Pashtunwali. They are also banned from having multiple husbands or sexual partners.
Do women usually hold a job? Depends on class. It is the norm amongst the agricultural and industrial working class, common amongst the class of small business owners and rare amongst the nobility.
If so, what kind of jobs?

Nobility: Teachers, charity work, social work,veterinarians, religious Sufi mystics,doctors, nurses, scholars/academics including Islamic scholars, , farm and real estate management, investing.

Bourgeoisie: saleswomen, policewomen, accountants, secretaries, (usually in the case of widows) sometimes business owners, doctors, nurses.

Peasantry and proletariat: maidservants, waitresses, belly dancers, nautch girls, stable workers, dairy maids.

Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? The Marines.
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? Yes, 21 years ago the 1399 Women’s Suffrage Act was passed allowing them into parliament. It is now 1420.
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? Traditional upper class people sometimes dislike it but other than that nothing.

[Arachkya]

Name of country:Arachkya.

What percentage of the population do women make up?: About 42%
What is the perception of women in society?:More Dangerous then Men.
What clothes are women expected to wear?: Long dresses in dark colors.
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics?No.
Do women usually hold a job?Sometimes.
If so, what kind of jobs? Menial Labor.
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? They can not be part of the military, the government, or the clergy, no matter what religion it is.
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? No.
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? Absurd and leaning to Paganism.

[Ko-oren]

Name of country: Ko-oren

What percentage of the population do women make up? 49,5%
What is the perception of women in society? There's no special perception. Sure, there are differences in how women and men are treated in general, but it doesn't boil down to any cultural notion of gender. There are almost no differences in employment (roles), education or at home.
What clothes are women expected to wear? There are no strict norms, though Ko-orenite culture dictates fairly modest clothing for both genders. In the modern age, these restrictions are letting up a bit and foreign female clothing enters the nation. Some conservative parties do not agree with this, but there is no backlash against it.
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? No
Do women usually hold a job? Yes
If so, what kind of jobs? Any
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? No
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? No/all
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? Necessary.

[The Land of the Ephyral]

═───╡❖╞────────═ WOMEN IN THE FREEHOLD ═────────╡❖╞───═

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DEMOGRAPHICS OF WOMEN

No official count has been produced on the gender-ratio of men to women in the Freehold, however it is presumed to be more or less equal, with women expected to be a slightly greater proportion. Unofficial estimates vary from 50% to 51.5%. Women are also presumed to make up roughly half of each of Ephyra's social and economic classes, and make up half of the populations split by ethnicity and religion, as is to be expected along the male-female dichotomy.

PERCEPTION OF WOMEN

The way a woman is perceived by others and by society is dependent on four core factors; universal perception of her sex, her social class, her present expected role, and her individual actions influencing honour. The second of these can dictate the social value of the third, whilst the fourth can undermine the privileges and value of both. The first however can be regarded as the foundations for the perception of women, what women are inherently. All other factors are modification.

The perception of women as a sex in Ephyra would likely see accusations of sexism from other societies self-styled as more progressive, but it would be a critical error to assume that these judgements were entirely invented, applied, and enforced by men. It is in fact the women of Ephyra who tend to reinforce traditional attitudes to a degree considered more than men, for it is they who raise the children of the citizen families. Some of these perceptions have biological backing, and others do not. Women are the weaker sex in Ephyra, regarded by many as applying both in body and mind. Others contest the supposed lesser intelligence of women, postulating instead expertise in other perhaps less-public fields. Despite this, the innate souls of women are regarded as equal to that of men. Women as a sex can be broadly seen as nurturing, caring, aesthetically beautiful, manipulative, deceitful, loving, passive, seductive, servile, important, and with an innate role and duty as the mothers of the future.

All women in the Freehold belong to one of five social classes; Ephyral citizen, Lykosian semi-citizen, foreign immigrant, free provincial, or a slave. It is the first of these which is of highest social importance, but key to note is that full Ephyral citizens form a minority in the total population of the Freehold, and even including the Lykosian semi-citizens places more than half of the total residents of Ephyra into non-citizen classes.

The Ephyral woman, one who is born to a citizen father in legitimate marriage to a woman of either Ephyral or Lykosian status, is of the greater importance. The perceptions of her as a woman are framed around the social institutions most relevant to her, the family and marriage. The physical weakness of women, variable perceptions of lesser intelligence, but more importantly her sex's monopoly on wombs and the carrying of children, has resulted in women of citizen birth having long been placed under the protection of physically superior and socially powerful male family members, with key priority being her father. The women of Lykosian birth often reside in a family structure imitating of this, but without the same legal power afforded to male citizen household heads. In the role of a daughter, a woman is expected to be absolutely obedient to ensure that his duty of protecting her is not undermined by the woman herself. When a virgin of sexual maturity, a woman's honour and value is arguably at its height. In her mid to late teens she will be expected to marry a man selected by her father. Entering marriage as a virgin, her personal honour cannot be questioned in the sexual regard, and she can adopt the duties of a wife and mother legitimate children. Obedience to her father remains paramount, as he reserves the power to divorce her from her husband. Deference to her husband is nominal, and her obligations to him are one of bearing children and maintaining the household in a domestic sphere whilst he does so in a public one. In the role of a mother, her duty to her children is to nurture and raise them, particularly her daughters in the fashion of her own upbringing.

To be a citizen woman is also to have legal protections far in excess of her counterparts lower in the social hierarchy, aimed at protecting her physical self and her honour from external harm. The murder or rape of a virgin citizen woman is amongst the most heinous crimes imaginable in the Ephyral state, for which the penalty is always death. It is by a matter of law that only citizen women can be considered to have been raped, as the crime is regarded as against her honour as a woman and the daughter and husband of a citizen. Whilst the act of physical abuse consists of a crime in and of itself, and is regarded severely, it is pale in comparison to the violation of a modest and honourable woman. Furthermore, whilst marriage places a woman in a limited state of authority under her husband (for he lacks any legal power), there is no toleration of domestic abuse by her family, as her legal birth-family guardian is fully empowered to divorce her for her own benefit. Key to note however is that the physical chastisement of a wife for transgressions within the family is considered acceptable when executed properly, but is far more controversial than the perceived necessary corporal punishment of children.

Next to Ephyral women and Lykosian women who marry Ephyral men, the remaining two free social classes of immigrant and provincial are viewed with far less importance and value by the citizenry. Where the women of Ephyral class, and to an extent Lykosian class, both have innate honour derived from position and family to be considerate of and respect, women of immigrant and provincial class have none. By citizen women, they are viewed as base, disreputable, even offensive, owing to their barbarian and non-citizen origins. For citizen men, they are valid targets for sexual conquest. Whilst the only legitimate intercourse to be had with a citizen woman is in marriage, for even consensual sex with her outside of marriage constitutes either an act of criminal seduction or adultery, this is dependent on a measure of person and familial honour already judged absent in the foreigner or conquered subject. They cannot by matter of law be considered raped, although physical acts against them constitute crimes in and of themselves, they are punished nowhere near as heavily. Many are regarded as natural slaves, fit for prostitution or servitude. Social elevation is only really possible through the elevation of the men in their family - although women of these classes can become concubines to socially and economically superior men which, though not increasing their status, does afford them greater protection.

Slave women and slave men find themselves in a similar boat. Entirely unfree, absent even the basic rights of peoples afforded to the free non-citizen classes, the life of a slave woman can vary in its quality. Some fortunate slave women find themselves the handmaidens to citizen mistresses, who greatly prefer to keep their servants unmolested and in good health. The relationship of the master and slave here can be more akin to employer and employee, with some slaves even being given a stipend, and even with elements of friendship and familiarity. The less fortunate find their master to be a corporate entity, not an individual, most likely a brothel whose only interest in its slave employees is that they are attractive.

The individual actions of a woman can impact her perception by her peers with regards to the social consciousness of her honour. A woman's honour is informed mostly by refraining from action, and there is little a woman can affirmatively do to elevate it other than dutiful and obedient performance of her expected roles. In action however, a woman can incur subtraction or total obliteration of her honour. The most common way this is done, as well as one of the most final, is adultery. By allowing another man where only her husband has the right to be, a woman's most esteemed virtues of chastity, modesty, deference, and piety are shattered. Woman found to have committed adultery are divorced in dishonour, and will never remarry. In the most extreme of cases, her own birth family might expel her, freeing her from both the authority of her paternal guardian but also all the protections that role provided her, leaving her destitute and without honourable opportunity. Women who obey their fathers, marry as expected, provide children in that marriage, and are faithful and dutiful in raising them and furthering the position and status of her birth and marriage family by refraining from any action which can bring dishonour upon them or her, are to be considered honourable. They are chaste, pious, and obedient.

It is however important to distinguish voluntary forfeit of honour from the perception of having been dishonoured. To have been dishonoured by another is to have had a quality maintained by inaction stolen through forced action by another. A key example of this in Ephyra would be the concept of rape, which as opposed to adultery, is an attack on the honour of the woman and not her voluntary forfeit of it. For a person to have been dishonoured by another is not them lacking honour, and fault lies entirely with the individual who dishonoured them. In myth and legends, it was common for women so dishonoured to reclaim it from the honour 'thief' by killing their assailant, or in some legends themselves.

Whilst on the surface this may seem limiting and even dominating, the complex social web of Ephyra allows women considerable freedom and opportunity, informing their father's on desired choices for a husband, finding meaning and value in their roles as a wife and mother and developing genuine affection with their husbands, and the elevated self-respect and esteem from being so evidently above women fallen from honour or those who never had any to start with. Neglected from this document focusing on women are all the obligations and responsibilities shouldered by men in regards to themselves and their women, and all the methods by which they too can fall from honour and into disgrace. The Freehold's citizens are a people who place the concept of responsibility above that of rights, and derive meaning from work and duty over frivolity and indulgence.

DRESS OF WOMEN

The dress of women can be described aesthetically in three words; loose, long, and light. In purpose, its sole role is to present civility and modesty. Women of Ephyra wear a variant of the male tunic that exists in two distinct forms. These dresses are formed from sheets, folded and pinned as much as sewn, to provide the shape and style of their clothing.

The Rhyosian tunic is the most common, and subject to the highest potential variation and modification. In the basics across all forms, it is a single wide and tall sheet folded laterally around the wearer, with the front and back pinned at the shoulders to form a dress suspended from that location, extending down to the feet or ankles. With respect to variety, this can have a horizontal overfold forming a 'blouse' over the breasts by folding the top third of the sheet down before placing it around the wearer. Alternatively no such overfold can be added, though the thin and light nature of the linen used may leave a female wearer vulnerable to breast exposure through the sheet. Whilst traditionally left open at the side opposite to the lateral fold, relying on weight and volume of material to conceal the body from ankle to arm, many women opt to either permanently sew this side or use pins to fasten it for reasons of modesty. The tunic can be belted beneath the breasts to pull the material in, and over which excess material can be pulled to form a secondary blousing effect.

Controversially the tunic can be worn single-shoulder, either by neglecting to pin the front and back at the shoulder on the side of the lateral fold, or by orienting the pin off of the shoulder and onto the arm (this is considered counter-modest but not outright immodest). Even more controversial and bordering on the immodest are low necklines, relying on pinning the tunic in a manner that creates excess central fabric, potentially exposing as low as the centre-breast (whilst no serious exposure can take place upright, leaning over or reclining can expose one or both breasts); shorter length of skirt, for in practice anything up to the knee is considered sufficiently modest, but with full length preferred; or slits cut into the material to expose parts of the leg whilst retaining modest length.

The most immodest variant of this style of tunic is the one legally mandated for registered prostitutes when applying their trade; the skirt must descend no lower than the knees. This indicates them as physically easier to gain sexual access to, representative of their behaviour and trade as allowing entry for payment. As a cultural consequence, those wearing short skirts are presumed to be figures of disrepute and sexually accessible; even the more rebellious elements of women in Ephyra do not tempt that judgement.

The Iosorian tunic remains the less popular choice, but is widely regarded as more modest. Formed from two sheets sewn up each side except for several inches off of the top, the top edge of the front and back are pinned in place along the arms of the wearer to again provide suspension from this point. The tunic is then tightly belted and fastened in between the breasts and waist, creating a sleeved alternative to the Rhyosian and considerably less modification opportunities.

Over the top of this, a secondary layer can be worn and is done so mostly in public and by older and married women. Resembling a very basic Rhyosian tunic, it is sewn instead of folded but similarly pinned at the shoulders, adding a second layer for modesty, insulation, and protection, as well as to signify aforementioned status of age or marriage. This dress can however be worn independent of a tunic, as was done in the height of the Mantaran Empire (a predecessor Selian-state to Ephyra) as it culturally evolved. As a result, the wearing of the dress without any under-tunic is considered the Mantaran style, and typically done more by the wealthier citizen women.

Younger girls wear these tunics in reduced sizes, and the tunics can also be adjusted to accommodate pregnancy.

The cloak of the citizen woman presents her as such, worn from the age of fourteen onward, marking her as marriageable. Fastened at one shoulder and worn across the body in its more typical style by young, unwed women, older women reconfigure it to be pulled atop their head and wrapped around the otherwise skin-plenty upper arms and shoulders of their Rhyosian tunic.

In undergarments, women wear variably an item resembling either the bottom piece of a two-piece bikini, or something more resembling shorts. From about nine years old, girls wear a breast-band around their chest to limit breast growth, aiming for the cultural beauty standard of smaller breasts. This stops being worn by girls-turned-women between the ages of fifteen and twenty, from which they will not wear any garment equivalent to a bra save for personal exercise, swimwear, or until the age of fifty-five to sixty when the breast-band is worn again.

The most typical footwear for women are sandals laced up the leg to the bottom of the knee. In the home they go barefoot. It is also polite to be barefoot in the homes of others, to respect their home as a home and demonstrate oneself to be comfortable within it, and accepting of the roles of guest to the host.

Cosmetically, make-up is applied but in a limited fashion. The enhancement of natural beauty should be its purpose, not total fabrication. Excessive make up is again associated with prostitutes who desire to look as attractive as possible for the attention of men. Citizen women of modesty wear makeup to better represent the breeding of their house than for attention. Common is the use of light blush of the cheeks, and various forms of eyeliner.

Women of Ephyra grow their hair to considerable lengths, binding it in marriage but leaving it long in virginity. In body-hair, women strive to be hairless even in the pubic region to preserve the youth of maidenhood.

EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN

The emphasis on women maintaining the private household sphere, and men the public political sphere, has produced a social attitude highly critical of female involvement in the labour force. This however is more an ideal than a practice, as women working is often necessary for lower-income families be they of citizen or non-citizen background. For citizen women, work done is whenever possible restricted to labour which cannot be regarded as dishonourable, however for some women such selection is a luxury ill-afforded.

The concept of actual 'work' for women is comprised of their domestic duties in maintaining the household in a more proactive fashion than her husband, and the bearing and raising of their children.

When women must work commercially, it is preferred they do so in some kind of family business so that they remain supervised and protected by the men of their family. Work in which citizen women must engage with unrelated men is considered unfitting, but for pragmatic reasons has not been judged outright dishonourable. Professional careers for women however do exist, but are mostly filled by women of non-citizen background. For citizen women to partake in them is not unheard of, but not common, and not without social stigma.

Less of a job and more of a public duty is to become a priestess in any of the cults to the gods of Ephyra. Qualifications and esteem vary by priesthood, but cults like the Virgins of Lysharar (a celibate order devoted to the goddess of the hearth and home) are of great religious and political significance.

Jobs held by women of non-citizen class, who are in a sense liberated from maintaining a perception of honour, are primarily focused around goods and services work, such as waitresses, shop attendants, or more public work like secretaries. Citizen women have been known to hold these jobs, almost exclusively from the lowest economic classes, but it is controversial. More professional careers that can be pursued by women include nursing and other medical enterprises and teachers. For citizen women these last two are considered to be the most acceptable, as they comprise a public service to the state as well as playing to what are perceived to be innate female strengths.

By far however the lowest and most disreputable occupations for a woman is any that violates modesty. Actresses and other performers are considered little better than prostitutes for making themselves spectacles to the public vision. Whilst the profession itself can be quite lucrative financially, it is a permanent and critical blow to how she will be perceived.

There remain jobs of course that women are not only discouraged but disallowed from occupying, due to their centrality within the public sphere. Neither law enforcement nor military personal can be women due to elevated risk to them both partially caused and impacted by inferior physical capabilities. Membership in any male priesthoods is also forbidden for the same reason that men are disallowed from female priesthoods. Women also cannot run for any political office and become a Senator, or indeed vote for anyone who can. This is not an exhaustive list of prohibited occupations, but serves as an example of the line between the private and public and the place of women in the former.

As of the modern era, the entire idea of women holding jobs is regarded as a poor reflection on the men related to these women for failing to successfully provide for them. It is a point of pride for a man to boast that his wife and daughters have never had to work outside the home, and indeed a point of pride for women to point to the husbands and fathers who enable that. The majority of citizen women however do not belong to the wealth margin that mandates they work, performing instead their domestic duties as a daughter, wife, and mother.

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═───╡❖╞──────────────═ Article Published in the name of the Senate and Freeborn Landholders of Ephyra by the Sphere of the Exterior - Diplomatic Commission ═──────────────╡❖╞───═

[Estonland]

Name of country: Estonland
What percentage of the population do women make up? 49.7%
What is the perception of women in society? As capable as men, but with different social roles
What clothes are women expected to wear? Western female clothing
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics? Fairly common, but not over-emphasized
Do women usually hold a job? About 25% do
If so, what kind of jobs? Nursing, teaching, secretariat, and a small minority of military personel
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? Frontline military service and coal mining
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women? The Reserve Air Force
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs? Not frowned upon, but women are expected to prioritise family

[Louisiana Royale]

Name of country: The Kingdom of Louisiana Royale

What percentage of the population do women make up? 60%, the First World War’s conscription combined with a code against putting women in harm’s way created a far safer world for women and a more dangerous one for men.
What is the perception of women in society?: typically a perception of chivalric idealisation though women, especially block women, are sometimes stereotyped as femme fatales.
What clothes are women expected to wear?depends on their class, will write a Facebook on this.
Are women expected to wear make-up or cosmetics?: perfume yes but make up is considered low-class.
Do women usually hold a job?: yes because the bourgeoisie and noblesse are less common than les miserable and the proletariat.
If so, what kind of jobs?: often unmarried women from high class backgrounds might be teachers or Mother Superior’s of convents, if from a low-class background they will typically work in either clerical work(though many high class women do this as well), shop work or domestic work, as well as manual work in the case of some black women.
Are there any jobs that women are barred from legally? Yes. Infantrymen, sailors, marines, most types of policing.
Are there any jobs that have recently allowed women?: senior ranks of the civil service, foreperson, the police(although lenient to dealing with juvenile offenders, female offenders and certain crimes such as rape, vice and child abuse)
What is the public opinion of women holding jobs?: the older upper class people see it as low class but WW1 changed things.

[Estainia]

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