Why were women not included in history books?

Answer 1

History is fundamentally the chronicles of performers, people who did something fairly spectacular, deemed worthy of note for future generations to learn about. For most of recorded history, women were put into an inferior position where it was harder to find the opportunity to become big and powerful performers. The same is generally true of political minorities (usually determined by race, religion, or socio-economic status).
And the bigger the perfomer or stage he's put on, the more you know about him. That's why American presidents, particularly the ones during war time, the foundation of the US, or other major crises, are the best known to Americans.

Answer 2

In general women are less prominent in history books because the power structure of the world has been male dominated. History tends to focus on Heads of State and military leaders, and for the most part these have been male. There have been some exceptional women that made their mark on history, however women generally did not have the same opportunities to hold positions of power.

Answer 3

Because until about 100 years ago, women were excluded from the academic, military, and voting community. They were not government leaders, politicians, physicians, scientists, etc. They didn't even own land. However, there were women that pushed through those barriers, and made contributions in any way that they could - many times with great criticism. They are mentioned in history books - Madam Curie, Harriet Tubman, Joan of Arc, Catherine De Medici, all of Henry VIII's wives, many queens, Clara Barton, etc.

Answer 4

Most rulers have been men and most governments have been run by men so they get into the history books more often. Some outstanding women HAVE made it into the history books because their contributions couldn't be ignored. Here are a few:

Cleopatra IV of Egypt
Marie Theresa of Austria
Elizabeth I of England
Mary I (Tudor) of England
Mary II (Stewart) of England
Victoria of England

Non-rulers:

Madame Curie
Joan of Arc
Susan B. Anthony
Florence Nightingale
Clara Barton

Answer 5

Women were usually excluded from positions of power and from the activities that men felt were important. Since most history books is a record of what men think is important, very few of the activities of woman are included. Hunting receives much more attention than gathering and childcare in the description of early human society, and war gets more attention than food production in later ones because of male dominated choices about what is important.

Answer 6

Who do you think wrote the history? Men. Very few women in History have ever gotten alot of press, good or bad until recently.

Answer 7

There are women in history textbooks. There isn't many but a few. Dorthy Nix, Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman... There are more, especially when you talk about suffrage.

Answer 8

Where have you been, under a rock?
Haven't you heard of Marie Antoinnette, Mary Queen of Scotts, Joan of Arc, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Mother Theresa, Cleopatra, the list goes on and on and many were great and not so great rulers.

Answer 9

History literally means;

his story

Men wrote the books and women were an irrelivent factor for much of history.

Answer 10

History is written by the people in charge, and last time I checked women haven't been in charge. Then came Hillary......