Final answer:
Women throughout history have faced greater social restrictions and yet tend to have better mortality rates. Economic challenges, lack of basic rights, and limited educational opportunities have historically oppressed women, but as conditions improve, so do mortality rates and societal contributions. Educational advancement and economic participation are key to further elevation of women's status.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historically, women have lived under greater social restrictions, and at the same time they have exhibited better mortality rates than men. This paradox is evident across various social classes and cultures. Women often face challenges in asserting their basic rights, particularly in the workplace. In peripheral nations, for instance, they have limited ability to accumulate assets, work less land, earn lower wages, and experience curtailed civil rights and liberties, which affect their economic contribution and personal growth.
Poor women have historically found employment in roles like domestic work or light-industry factories, which were stigmatized by the upper classes. Despite limited rights to property, income, and political representation, women have managed to outlive men, an ironic fact given the power held by female leaders such as Queen Victoria during their lifetimes. The idea that women have enjoyed better mortality rates is complex and influenced by numerous factors, including access to healthcare, education levels, and living conditions, which are often dictated by economic status.
In contemporary society, women continue to face challenges such as education access, wage gaps, and discrimination. Single mothers, in particular, wrestle with economic hardships, contributing to a phenomenon known as the 'feminization of poverty.' However, as education and opportunities for women improve, so too does their influence on the economic growth of their countries and their overall quality of life. The societal fabric is slowly changing, which can lead to improvements in both women's lives and their mortality rates.